Convoy funds oxygenators for Bulli Hospital Palliative Care Ward

1 September, 2023

Illawarra Palliative Care patients can breathe a little easier now thanks to a $20000 donation of five portable oxygen concentrators from the i98FM Illawarra Convoy and the Illawarra Cancer Carers.

The portable oxygen devices mean patients who require a continuous supply of oxygen are no longer housebound because they can take them with them wherever they go, even to weddings, cruises or birthday celebrations.

“It means they don’t have to stay home all the time. They can go into town for the day or they can take them anywhere,” Palliative Care Nurse Unit Manager, Rebecca Perry, said.

“It’s amazing.’’ The five oxygen concentrators each cost $4000.

i98FM Illawarra Convoy and Illawarra Community Foundation Manager, Mark Rigby, said the Foundation was delighted to provide finance for the cost of the oxygen equipment, which would make life a little easier for Palliative Care patients. Illawarra Cancer Carers President, Geoff Failes, said the ICC had worked in conjunction with Convoy to request funding for the portable devices.

“Recently, the generosity shown by people in the Illawarra through their donations to us and Convoy has raised thousands of dollars to improve the caring environment for people with Cancer in the region,” he said.

Mr Failes said the Convoy’s Community Foundation also had helped fund the purchase of a 20 seater bus for the Cancer Carers ($85,000) and a van used to transport mobility scooters and wheelchair deliveries ($45,000).

As well, the Foundation had donated more than $60,000 to offset the cost of the ICC’s patient transport service to the Cancer Care Centre at Wollongong Hospital.