mmg.com.au

Echuca Regional Health will next week launch its campaign to raise $2million to fully furnish the new hospital.

As part of the ‘Make Your Mark’ campaign, thousands of mail-outs will be sent to district households from today and an official launch event on Wednesday.

An advertising campaign will kick off later this week.

Community members will be able to donate towards an extensive list of equipment which includes items such as resuscitation trolleys, a patient monitoring system for the emergency department and humidicribs.

The costs of the items on the list range from about $200 to $350,000.

The campaign has already seen many business owners approached for larger donations in recent months and some items have already been funded.

ERH public relations manager Deidre Madill said community members should not be put off by the high cost of some of the items.

‘‘It doesn’t matter how big or small, all donations will be put to good use,’’ she said.

In January, ERH chief executive Michael Delahunty said the $65.6million in government funding for the hospital included $2.2million for equipment, but estimates showed another $2million would buy better equipment and the ability to upgrade existing items.

Mr Delahunty said it was not a matter of a funding shortfall, but a matter of making a good hospital better.

‘‘That ($2.2million for equipment) alone would be a good result,’’ he said.

‘‘(But) anything we want to do in addition to that is at our own expense.’’

The construction of the hospital is estimated to cost $55.8million, with a further $4.2million for equipment, $3.6million for technology, $2.8million for supporting the hospital while the construction takes place, $900,000 for authority fees and $300,000 for art to decorate the inside of the hospital.

All up the figure comes to $67.6million.

For more information or to make a donation contact the hospital’s PR department on 54855975.