Image: Places of Pride
A South Australian country hospital will soon have a new state-of-the-art X-ray machine after the local community rallied together to raise more than $108,000 towards the vital equipment.
Bordertown Memorial Hospital has secured funding for a new Carestream DRX-Rise Mobile X-ray system.
The fundraising effort was led by the Rotary Club of Bordertown, alongside donations from members of the local community.
Together, they raised $108,825, with the Limestone Coast Local Health Network contributing the remaining $27,482.
The new mobile X-ray system will allow medical staff to perform bedside imaging, reducing the need to transfer patients to the nearest radiology department in Naracoorte.
For patients in the regional community, that could mean faster access to diagnostic imaging and treatment without having to travel out of town.
The fully digital system will provide high-quality images to assist with accurate diagnosis and timely medical management, while its mobility makes it particularly suited to the needs of rural healthcare.
Bordertown Memorial Hospital is an accredited radiology X-ray department and currently supports 13 local Registered Nurses who are licensed to perform emergency radiology onsite.
The service supports the hospital’s 20-bed inpatient acute ward, Accident and Emergency department and co-located 62-bed residential aged care facility.
“It was a huge effort by the local community to raise that amount of money towards the purchase of a new x-ray machine,” shared Health and Wellbeing Minister Blair Boyer.
“The Malinauskas Labor Government is thrilled that the Limestone Coast Local Health Network is able to bridge the gap between what was raised and what is needed to buy this state of the art machine that is expected to deliver better health outcomes for the Bordertown community.”
Boyer, who grew up in regional South Australia, said access to quality healthcare close to home was particularly important for country communities.
“As someone who grew up in the country, I know firsthand how important it is to have quality healthcare services close to home and as a State Government we’re committed to ensuring South Australians can access the support they need no matter where they live.”
Limestone Coast Local Health Network CEO Emma Poland added, “The DRX-Rise system offers fully digital imaging, exceptional mobility, and seamless integration with our existing infrastructure.
“It is particularly suited to the unique challenges of rural healthcare, where access to timely diagnostic imaging can significantly impact patient outcomes.
“We are grateful to Rotary and the local community for their support in raising funds for the purchase of this equipment.”
For a community that has already shown just how much it can achieve by coming together, the new X-ray machine is another important investment in local healthcare.
