Think Pink and Walk When You Want To

The Cape Hawke Community Hospital Pink Ladies have donated three new multi-purpose seat walkers to the equipment loan pool, valued at $1300, for use by palliative care patients in the community.

The Navigators, as the seat walkers are known, are a three-in-one solution for people for whom walking is getting difficult. It serves as a seat when the hand brakes are on, or instantly become an attendant propelled wheelchair or an independent walking frame when the handbrakes are released.

Clinical Nurse Specialist with Forster Palliative Care Trish Lowe, said the Navigators allow people to be independent when they want, but easily converts to a wheel chair when the patient requires extra support.

She said the Navigators are lightweight and easy for a carer to manage, which makes them an ideal piece of equipment to support the independence of patients at home.

Ms Lowe said the Cape Hawke Community Hospital Pink Ladies are a charitable group who fund raise for services in the local area.

"They raise funds through social functions, theatre parties, sausage sizzles and raffles, and then donate the funds to services such as NSW Cancer Council drivers, Multiple Sclerosis Society, the local community hospital, local ambulance as well as the Palliative Care Service.

"One of the members, Betty McCartney, told me that many members of the Pink Ladies have had occasion to use the Palliative Care service for people they have cared for, and feel it is a worthwhile service deserving of their support," Ms Lowe said.