Patients arriving at Singleton Hospital Emergency Department now have access to faster bedside assessment and diagnosis, thanks to new point-of-care ultrasound equipment funded through Glencore Coal’s Community Investment Program.
Singleton Hospital provides 24-hour care for adults and children and treats around 17,300 patients each year. It also serves surrounding communities including Broke, Camberwell, Jerrys Plains, Belford, Greenlands and Goorangoola.
The equipment allows clinicians to assess patients at the bedside, supporting faster diagnosis and treatment across a range of emergency presentations including trauma, cardiac conditions, abdominal pain, pregnancy complications and paediatric emergencies.
John Hunter Hospital Area Trauma Clinical Nurse Consultant Debra McDougall said the technology was particularly valuable in a regional emergency setting.
“For a regional hospital like Singleton, this can make a real difference, particularly when patients need urgent treatment, stabilisation or transfer for specialist care,” Ms McDougall said.
Glencore Community Relations Coordinator Tracey Snedden said supporting the hospital was about investing in a service local families rely on every day.
“When someone arrives at an Emergency Department, every minute matters,” Ms Snedden said.
“For us, this is a practical investment that will make a difference to local people for many years to come.”
