An outpouring of support from supporters right across Queensland is keeping the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) in the air during the COVID-19 pandemic.
An outpouring of support from supporters right across Queensland is keeping the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) in the air during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The community response to the RFDS (Queensland Section) COVID-19 Emergency Fund has been a major uplift for Flying Doctor staff who are on the frontline supporting and transferring patients suspected of having the Coronavirus.
So far, more than $470,000 has been raised of the $689,000 goal. All funds raised from the COVID-19 Emergency Fund will be used immediately to fund RFDS aeromedical staff, medical and pharmaceutical supplies, expansion of telehealth capabilities, flu vaccines for remote communities and disinfectant fog machines for ongoing cleaning of our aeromedical aircraft across the state.
Already the RFDS has seen an outpouring of generosity from its loyal supporters.
“Seeing as we are currently in isolation, my husband and I are donating what we would have spent at a local restaurant for breakfast on Easter Sunday. Thank you to all RFDS staff,” one supporter wrote on the COVID-19 Emergency Fund donation page.
“You are all amazing people dedicated to your job and the work you do is invaluable, and much appreciated. Please take care of yourselves as well,” another supporter said.
Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) Chief Executive Officer, Meredith Staib, said the outpouring of support had been felt right across the organisation.
“Right now, demand for our service is growing and our people on the frontline are working incredibly hard to ensure we can continue to deliver all the services we are known for, as well as the increase in demand we are expecting due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ms Staib said.
“The incredible generosity that we are seeing, from individuals to large corporate supporters like Woolworths and South32, is helping us to immediately purchase the vital equipment we need to continue looking after the health and wellbeing of people living in regional, rural and remote Queensland.
“However, a critical element in achieving this is ensuring our staff are also well protected and remain healthy, and by ensuring we have the necessary equipment at our disposal, we can make sure this happens and carry on our mission of providing the finest care to the furthest corner of the state.”
RFDS (Queensland Section) Flight Nurse, Donna Porter, said the outpouring of support from the public was incredibly uplifting.
“I was packing the car for work the other day and heard someone clapping, I noticed it was my neighbour who was thanking me, as a nurse, for our hard work. It was such a lovely start to the day,” Ms Porter said.
“We do this job because we love giving back to the people of rural, regional and remote Queensland. We don’t expect to be thanked just for doing our jobs, but in these crazy times, it really does lift our spirits.
“We love what we do, and we just hope we can make a difference.”
If people would like to donate to the RFDS (Queensland Section) COVID-19 Emergency Fund, they can do so by visiting rfds.co/covid19emergency
