Grampians Health provides public healthcare for the Ballarat and Grampians Regions communities, across the span of their lives. Services include prenatal care, dental care, mental health services for children and adults, cardiology, cancer treatment, a range of allied health services, aged care, palliative care, and emergency and surgical care. 

Matthew Hadfield, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Grampians Health, is responsible for over 600 doctors at Grampians Health. He is also a vascular surgeon and operates on patients at Ballarat Base Hospital every week.

“My work, both as CMO and as a practising surgeon helps inform my decisions in providing care for all our patients. When you are speaking directly with a patient, you get a deep understanding of their experiences of healthcare. This helps inform the bigger picture about how we provide care. One of the biggest issues is access to care, close to people’s homes. By providing care close to home, we are keeping patients within their support networks, and reducing the stress.”

He explains why a public health service needs the support of community donations and fundraising. 

“Like all technology in our society, healthcare is developing at an incredible pace. While our staff are experts in their fields, getting access to the latest equipment and technology is incredibly expensive,” Mr Hadfield said. “As a regional health service, we need to make financial choices about the equipment we have access to, and the care we can provide.”

“Fundraising allows us to provide a better and wider range of services for more people. This leads to better outcomes for our patients and allows us to deliver the best possible healthcare, close to people’s homes.”

Grampians Health Ballarat fundraising projects are selected to ensure positive patient care through innovation, cost saving or environmental measures.

David Fraser is a well-known local runner who recently came first in the Men’s 60+ age group for the inaugural Ballarat Marathon, with a time of 3 hours and 15 minutes. Two-and-a-half years to the day before the marathon, Mr Fraser suffered a massive heart attack and received CPR for 40 minutes from bystanders and later ambulance staff, before being transferred to Ballarat Base Hospital. Mr Fraser was kept unconscious for 4 days to help stabilise his condition. He received three stents during this time to open the blockages in his heart. It seemed unlikely that Mr Fraser would run another marathon again.

Mr Fraser credits his incredible recovery to the support received from his family and friends, the care provided by the ambulance and Emergency Department staff, his cardiologist Professor Ernesto Oqueli  (Head of Cardiology at Grampians Health), his rehabilitation teams, and later, his community of runners.

“I was told by one of the Cardiology doctors that I was a very lucky man, that running saved my life.”

“We were so grateful to be able to receive treatment and start my rehabilitation close to home. If I wanted to return to any form of physical activity, I needed to complete the rehabilitation program at the Base to get permission to return to work and the gym.” Mr Fraser explained. “This was the first crucial step in building back my fitness. If I had needed to travel for my rehabilitation, I doubt I would have been able to complete it.”

Nine months after his heart attack, Mr Fraser returned to Ballarat Base Hospital for an echo test and a request to his cardiologist that he could start competing again. Less than two years later Mr Fraser ran the marathon in a time he had not achieved for 10 years. 

“I think my story gives people hope,” Mr Fraser said. “Cholesterol really is a silent killer, and I’d encourage everyone to stay active and keep a close eye on their health, even if you don’t feel unwell. It’s great to be back. I know I’m at 100%.”

To make a tax-deductible donation to support our highest need projects to help purchase life-saving medical equipment, please visit https://ghb-tax-appeal-2024.raiselysite.com/