Just as the Paris Olympics hit our screens, the Warwick Hospital switched on their 87 new televisions.
Passionate advocacy by the local Warwick Lions Club to the Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman has resulted in new TVs installed throughout the hospital.
These upgrades replace the aging entertainment system that was installed at Warwick Hospital in 2006, following a donation from the Warwick Lions Club.
Warwick Lions Club member, Cecil Watts said in January he visited a friend in the Warwick Hospital and discovered the televisions weren’t working and hadn’t for some time due to a lightning strike.
“Over the last few months, approaches have been made to our State and Federal Members, the Mayor of Southern Downs Regional Council and other government agencies and our local newspaper ran a story. We are very happy that a result has been achieved,” Mr Watts said.
“To the Minister, from the Warwick Lions Club and myself, thank you for your intervention, which will give many people who are recovering an opportunity to keep up with the outside world, and can join in with conversations.”
Patients at Warwick Hospital are overjoyed with the new entertainment options. Pat Flint remarked, “This is the first time I’ve seen them, but it’s good to have something to watch while receiving my treatment, especially when the Olympics are on.”
Another patient, Rolly Payne, added, “This is a great improvement; it certainly beats sitting here looking at the ceiling. I’ve been enjoying watching Jag and Outback Truckers.”
The new entertainment system saw existing TVs in the Hanlon Ward, Phillips Ward, and Birthing Suites replaced, and TVs installed in the Horwitz Ward and Emergency Department Short Stay Unit for the first time.
It also included the replacement of supporting infrastructure, including cabling and ancillary equipment.
Darling Downs Health Chief Executive Annette Scott PSM said that with the rapid progress of entertainment technology, the current system at the Warwick Hospital was no longer fit for the purpose.
“We are committed to providing the best possible experience to patients, their loved ones and friends when they visit any of our facilities, and often one of the shared memories is the time spent watching or listening to programming available on hospital entertainment systems,” Ms Scott said.
Led by Darling Downs Health, the almost $150,000 project was supported by the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation and donations to the Warwick Hospital General Trust.
The Miles Government is committed to providing a comfortable environment for patients to receive the healthcare they need, no matter where they live.
The Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman said this has been such a wonderful initiative to ensure patients and families visiting Warwick Hospital have the best experience possible.
“We know that being able to watch a movie or the news when recovering or receiving treatment in hospital is a great tool to help pass the time,” Ms Fentiman said.
“I know the Darlings Down Health team worked hard to get the new TVs installed in time for the Olympics, helping patients stay connected to the outside world.”
