Bladder screening tech given by Lions
A new bladder screening tool at Gore Hospital will allow flexibility for both healthcare professionals and patients, and was funded entirely by the Gore Pakeke Lions.
The Meike portable bladder scanner gives the medical practitioner live images and real time measurements of the patient's bladder, giving a non-invasive peek into the goings-on.
The portability will allow district nurses to perform home visits, often saving people in a vulnerable time considerable time and effort.
The machine, which cost around $7000, was funded entirely through the Gore Pakeke Lions after their member Murray Low brought it up at their meeting.
To put it into perspective, to cover the cost the Pakeke Lions would have had to recycle around three tonnes of aluminum cans.
Mr Low said he found out about the need for a machine after a check-up with a district nurse, and felt he could help the Gore Community by getting the funding.
"I was having ongoing treatment and I heard they were borrowing from other hospitals and I said we've got money, that's what it's for and it's what we do.
"Now patients won't have to travel far to get their bladders screened, or even at all as the device means those in need can get their check-up at their own home."
Gore Health chief executive Karl Metzler said he was extremely grateful for the support of the Pakeke Lions, which has been equally continuous and generous.
"A really heartfelt thanks to the Pakeke Lions for their support.
"It also needs to be said, this isn't a one-off.
"The Lions have supported this hospital and healthcare facility from day one and we shouldn't underestimate the tens of thousand they have so generously donated for often life-preserving equipment," he said.
gerrit.doppenberg@alliedpress.co.nz
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Petition on display as minister arrives
A petition calling for the health system to be fixed has arrived in Gore. The Buller Declaration is a petition started in September last year following the closure of the Buller regional hospital on the West Coast. The petition states healthcare is in a state of crisis and requires intervention by the government as well as the allocation of more resources for staffing issues. It also states the rural, Māori and poorer populations are being further victimised by this crisis, and the government must meet its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi. Already the petition has received thousands of signatures, with more to come as it sits in the foyer of Gore Health until the end of the month. Gore Health chief executive Karl Metzler said there was a tremendous amount of pressure being put on hospitals, especially in the South, due to a medical downturn. "General practices are like the canary in the coal mine. When they're not running or resourced well, you see the flow-on effect in EDs [emergency departments]. "Our little rural ED has gone from 6000 visits in 2021/22, to a 45% increase to over 10,000 visits this financial year. This is not sustainable," he said. Waiting lists are only growing longer, Mr Metzler said, it was becoming nearly impossible to access specialists in Southland. Mr Metzler said in a region with such strong economic drive there needed to be some reciprocity for the health sector down South. "We are a major food basket for this country and I think we're really getting short changed on the healthcare front, despite the tax dollars we contribute." Mr Metzler was hoping to raise awareness of the issue and also the petition. He was optimistic it would get a lot of support from the community. • Yesterday, after The Ensign 's deadline, Gore Health was due to host Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey. Earlier in the week, Mr Metzler said the meeting would also also be a great chance to promote what a rural hospital could be. "Gore has a lot to showcase and celebrate as a community-owned, integrated health facility. It's quite unique and I think we should be proud. "But it's also an opportunity to highlight some of the rural inequity of being a trust-owned hospital." Mr Metzler said as a trust-owned hospital, funding from Health New Zealand was a drop in the bucket compared to other facilities.
Otago Daily Times
06-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Health petition arrives, minister's visit looms
"General practices are like the canary in the coal mine. When they're not running or resourced well, you see the flow-on effect in EDs" — Karl Metzler. Photo: Linda Robertson Gore Health will be hosting quite a pairing this week, a petition calling the state of healthcare an emergency and the associate health minister. The Buller Declaration is a petition started in September last year following the closure of the Buller regional hospital on the West Coast. The petition states healthcare is in a state of crisis and requires intervention by the government as well as the allocation of more resources for staffing issues. It also states the rural, Māori and poorer populations are being further victimised by this crisis, and the government must meet its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi. Already the petition has received thousands of signatures, with more to come as it sits in the foyer of Gore Health until the end of the month. Gore Health chief executive Karl Metzler said there was a tremendous amount of pressure being put on hospitals, especially down South, due to a medical downturn. "General practices are like the canary in the coal mine. When they're not running or resourced well, you see the flow-on effect in EDs [emergency departments]. "Our little rural ED has gone from 6000 visits in 2021/22, to a 45% increase to over 10,000 visits this financial year. This is not sustainable," he said. Waiting lists are only growing longer, Mr Metzler said, it was becoming nearly impossible to access specialists in Southland. Mr Metzler said in a region with such strong economic drive there needed to be some reciprocity for the health sector down South. "We are a major food basket for this country and I think we're really getting short changed on the healthcare front, despite the tax dollars we contribute." Mr Metzler was hoping to raise awareness of the issue and also the petition. He was optimistic it would get a lot of support from the community. Tomorrow, Gore Health will be hosting Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey, who is responsible for mental and rural health. Mr Metzler said although he will be discussing issues with the minister, it would also be a great chance to promote what a rural hospital can be. "Gore has a lot to showcase and celebrate as a community-owned, integrated health facility. It's quite unique and I think we should be proud. "But it's also an opportunity to highlight some of the rural inequity of being a trust-owned hospital." Mr Metzler said as a trust-owned hospital, funding from Health New Zealand was a drop in the bucket compared to other facilities.
Otago Daily Times
01-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
'Thank you Gore': Neighbours' lifesaving advice
A Chinese family says they were lucky to have landed in Gore, after getting encouragement from their neighbours to head to hospital, thereby averting a life-threatening crisis. Married couple Eleanor Liu and Zach Zhu moved from Guangzhou, a city in China, to Gore last year to work at a local oesteopathy clinic. Mr Zhu, who practises traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, was walking home one evening when his neighbours Brendon Humphries and Stefanie Mayer noticed he was a bit pale. Continuing into the night, and even cooking dinner, Mr Zhu again felt strange with a tightness in his chest and a shortness of breath, but did not think much of it. Ms Mayer said after being told by her partner about Mr Zhu's condition, she checked in with her neighbours on Whatsapp, and encouraged a checkup. "Zach was walking past the house, and he was holding his chest and was struggling to breath, [Brendon] said you're not looking good. "My background is actually as a nurse in Europe, so I said yeah, you'd better go to A&E. I was very persistent to take him in and get checked out." After being kept overnight in Gore Hospital, Mr Zhu Liu was transferred to Invercargill for further testing, where an ECG showed irregularities. Dunedin was the next stop, where Mr Zhu underwent an angioplasty and had a stent inserted into his heart. Despite worries about traversing the medical system in a foreign country, the couple said they were very impressed with the service they received. "I can speak some English but nothing about hospitals, specifics. We were very nervous, but [Gore Health staff] were so kind, warm, and helpful," Ms Liu said. "The other thing was, when he was [discharged from Dunedin Hospital], they sent a Chinese translator to make sure he understood everything." It was a close call, but Ms Liu said it was the neighbour's reaching out which made the world of difference. "We were really lucky. Without the reminder from our neighbour, we might have ignored it." Now Mr Zhu is recovering at home and the messages and goodwill from the community are pouring in, which Ms Liu said was an incredible feeling. "Our boss [Mike McLeod] has experienced everything with us. We have no siblings, or family here, but he supported us as family. "His patients are sending messages and emails, it makes us feel not lonely, it's so important." Health scare aside, the family said they have come away with a better appreciation of their new home. "It became a real turning point for us as new migrants. Even when you don't know anyone, you're not alone for long. People check in, step up, look out for you. "Thank you Gore. You might be small, but you've got a mighty heart," she said.
