Lions Lend Support

Local Lions are doing what Lions do best, and have rallied together in support of St John of God Hospital, Bendigo, in its effort to raise funds for a Da Vinci Xi surgical robot. 

On Thursday, September 5, Charlton Lions met at the East Charlton Hotel to hear from guest speaker Dr. Janelle Brennan, one of the surgeons who will be operating the machine, who spoke about the equipment and the benefit it will make for the community for a number of various reasons.

The information session was well-attended with around 50 present, including representatives from neighbouring Lions clubs, Wycheproof, Wedderburn, Donald and St. Arnaud.

Those gathered were welcomed by Lion John Headon, who listed a significant number of apologies, before asking Lion Peter Watts to introduce the guest speaker whose resumé left none in doubt as to her expertise on the subject.

Da Vinci Xi
Dr Janelle Brennan spoke comfortably to her audience, putting aside complicated medical terminology and explaining it in layman’s terms and using slides on the big screen to illustrate her points. She asked her audience “why?” Why get a surgical robot? 

The robotic results really answer that question on their own. With 10x magnification, greater range of movement, greater accuracy and elimination of human error (e.g. hand tremors), the Da Vinci robot has enough precision to take the skin off a grape.

The Da Vinci can be used to perform a range of minimally invasive procedures that will enhance St John of God’s capabilities for prostate surgery, colorectal surgery, thoracic surgery, and renal and gynaecological procedures.

The results of procedures done with Da Vinci show greatly improved patient outcomes, shorter recovery time, less hospital time, reduced complications and improved oncology outcomes with an 18% decrease of missing cancer remaining in the margins.

This success rate must make the Da Vinci surgical robot a highly sought-after instrument amongst surgeons as well as patients preferring the surgical precision it offers.  As Janelle said, “No one wants a surgeon with a seeing-eye dog.”

The statistics agree with her, showing a high percentage of people travelling greater distances to receive robotic surgery, and it’s not just the patients attracted to the advanced technology, but surgeons are also drawn to the centres with this equipment in use.

Recruitment
“Eighty-seven per cent of my colleagues are in a capital city,” said Dr. Brennan. “Not even a regional city centre, an actual capital city.  That leaves us with a 13% pool to recruit from in regional areas.”

There are currently around 100 Da Vinci systems in Australia and New Zealand, with the majority of those funded through philanthropic means, and only one of those is located in a regional centre (Ballarat). 

“There are 18 in Melbourne and three in Geelong,” said Dr. Brennan. “Bendigo wants a robot!”

She went on to explain that regional hospitals offering the latest in medical advances, such as the surgical robot, are supporting their own health care ecosystem, by attracting and training the surgeons of the future and ensuring regional residents can receive  the same quality health care as their city counterparts, well into the future.

Because, “Why should people living in the country have to travel to the city for health care?” 

Questions
Dr Janelle finished by fielding questions from the audience, including the question on many people’s minds: Will the equipment be available to public patients? The answer: Though nothing has been officially released, Janelle is certainly hopeful. 

“It would be illogical to have the equipment and not use it,” she explained. “And it needs to be used every day.”

She explained that the number of private surgery patients would not be making use of it every day, and it would need patients coming through the public system to utilize it to highest capacity, but that also creates additional training opportunities.

Fundraising
St John of God Hospital has its sights set upon a refurbished Da Vinci Xi, with a price tag of around $2.5 million with training on the use of the equipment included, compared to a new unit at a cost of around 4.5 million.

So far, the private hospital has raised 1.5 million of its 2.5 million dollar goal, and on Thursday night, with Lion Garry Lamour announcing the official launch of the appeal, Charlton Lions were able to further add nearly $11,000 to the kitty.

A raffle was organized prior to the evening raising $527 and giving away prizes provided with the support of MaxiSew. The sewing machine first prize was claimed by Michael Ryan; second prize overlocker was won by Damian Hellard and the third prize $100 IGA voucher went to Tessa Sexton.

The amount raised with the sale of raffle tickets was announced to be $6886 in total before the floor was opened up to those who wanted to make pledges or donations.

Pledge
The Charlton Oasis Club then announced a pledge of $5000 in support of the Lions appeal to an appreciative round of applause, taking the total raised by Lions in the local zone close to $11,000.

The launch of the A79 fundraising appeal gained $2000 in donations, an improvised meeting raffle added $60.60. Donations of $1000 each came from Charlton Bowling Club and Charlton Club. Smaller but nonetheless significant donations came from Jeff and Mary McLoughlan, Charlton Community Bendigo Bank, North Central Financial Srvices, Charlton Men’s Shed and a number of generous individuals from the community.

Further donations were accepted on the night and will be warmly welcomed by Lions members in your area in the coming weeks and months.

Since St John of God Hospital is a foundation, all monetary contributions are tax deductible, where Lions will give you an interim receipt before the St John issues a deductible receipt later. 

Anyone interested in contributing to this appeal, can contact Charlton Lions treasurer on 0409 023 875 or make contact via Charlton Lions Club Treasurer, PO Box 4, Charlton, 3525.