PDH chief executive officer Chris Giles is calling on retirees or professional people in the community to help with grant applications to philanthropic trusts and other sources to refresh equipment stocks.

“We have various pieces of equipment reaching the end of their lifespan and will need to be replaced over the next few years,” Ms Giles said.

“To make sure we continue providing the best possible care to our community, we need to have the best and latest equipment and facilities.

“Securing funding from different sources is an essential part of that process.”

PDH has developed an equipment replacement plan and has a list of items that will need replacing over the next five years, including in the surgical theatre and radiology.

Ms Giles said writing grant applications was challenging but would be particularly helpful to the hospital.

“We hope there will be people with experience or writing expertise who could help with this important task,” she said.

“It could be suitable for retired teachers or other professionals who want to give back to their community.”

Ms Giles said that like many health services, the hospital struggled to find resources and staffing to write funding submissions.

“We’re looking for people who like to contribute to their community and at the same time keep their brain active,” she said.

“They won’t be out confronting people for fund-raising, they will just be preparing funding applications.”

Guidance will be provided to people even if they have no previous grant writing experience.

Ms Giles hopes to hold a monthly meeting to brief potential writers to make sure they have the right information.

“We could turn it into a social grant writing group,” she said.

Anyone interested or able to help can contact Ms Giles at  Portland District Health on 5521 0305.