Tullamore Hospital donates 35 dialysis machines to help earthquake victims

The Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, this week donated thirty-five dialysis machines as humanitarian aid to Turkey following recent earthquakes.

The donations, made on Monday of this week (April 3), included the machines and all consumables and spare parts, and were delivered as part of a coordinated response from the HSE Global Health Programme, Strategy and Research group.

The machines, while nearing end of life, can still be put to good use by those in need.

John Adlington, Principal Clinical Engineering Technician at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore commented: "The hospital has an ongoing medical device equipment replacement programme in line with manufacturers and HSE requirements and guidelines.

"The machines that are being donated have been in use within the renal dialysis departments for the last 10 years and have been fully maintained to a very high standard by the Clinical Engineering Technicians. It is good to know that they will continue to treat acute patients requiring dialysis."

This is not the first time the hospital has donated equipment to improve global health, John explained.

"In 2022, any medical device equipment that was no longer supported by the manufacturer but was in good working order was donated to the Equals Initiative which is an Irish based collaboration between Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the HSE that co-ordinates the distribution of donated equipment to Zambia."

Catriona Mc Donald, General Manager of Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, added: "The hospital is delighted to be able to support this important humanitarian aid initiative and bridge the gap for those working in hospitals in Turkey under difficult circumstances treating those most in need.

"I would like to acknowledge the work of our Clinical Engineering team for driving this worthwhile initiative," she said.