Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation has donated an exercise stress test device to the Alan Wolff Medical Centre to enable more accessible patient testing. 

Heart patients can now measure the performance and capacity of their heart, lungs and blood vessels without having to travel to Ballarat for specialist services.

Grampians Health cardiologist Dr Rajiv Ananthakrishna said the donation would make a big difference for his patients.

“I started providing cardiology services in Horsham just over a year ago and Grampians Health plans to continue expanding those services in Horsham,” he said.

“This device will support that expansion and save people a lot of time and travel.

“We are very grateful to the foundation for its support.”

Dr Rajiv said Grampians Health had been contacting the Wimmera’s general practitioners to inform them of the new service.

“Any GP can refer their patients for a stress test with us,” he said.

“The service will be available every fortnight.”

Foundation member Penelope Manserra said the charity was delighted to be able to provide Wimmera patients easy access to a stress test.

“We are delighted this will stop patients having to travel down the highway and hopefully it will encourage people to take advantage of these services locally,” she said.

An exercise stress test is generally carried out on patients with known or suspected blockages in heart arteries. 

Other uses of the stress test include evaluating a patient’s capacity to undertake certain physical activities, assessment of prognosis in those with known heart disease and planning of appropriate rehabilitation programs.

The stress test device is valued at $33,600.

The entire April 24, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire April, 24, 2024 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!