The Dunedin ICU team are brightening up for a good cause

The Te Puna Wai Ora (Critical Care) team at Dunedin Hospital have recently received a donation of 120 pairs brightly coloured scrubs. The scrubs have been donated by Australian clothing company, Gorman, as part of their “Scrub ‘Em Up With Love” project.

The scrubs will be worn on Fridays to brighten up the department and raise funds for a local Dunedin charity. In April $1,116 was raised for Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women’s Refuge.

Gorman has distributed 20,000 brightly coloured scrubs to nominated hospitals all over Australia and New Zealand. The aim of the scrubs is to bring smiles to the faces of hospital patients and shine a spotlight on Australia and New Zealand’s healthcare superheroes.

ICU Registered Nurse Jen Magee wrote the application letter to Gorman and says the entire team has come together to brighten up what can be a very stressful experience for patients.

“It has been heart-warming to see the smiles these colourful scrubs bring to staff and patient faces. It is such a great morale booster for our team, with the incredible bonus of being able to raise some much-needed funds for the Women’s Refuge coming into winter,” said Ms Magee.

The Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women’s Refuge Volunteer and Donations Lead Angel Durham is most appreciative of the donation from the ICU team. She says, “We are currently running a campaign ‘A Warm Bed is like a Warm Hug’ to help update our safe house beds with new winter bedding to keep vulnerable women and children warm this winter. This generous donation will allow us to purchase warm sheets, blankets, duvets, and mattress protectors for those most at need.”

“Last year there were 3,000 incidents of family violence reported to Dunedin Police. Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women’s Refuge receive up to 1,000 family violence referrals every year from within the Dunedin community.”

The Women’s Refuge provides advocacy, education, safe housing, and support to those affected by family violence in our community.