2006

iSOFT continues support for blood cancer patients and families

The new iSOFT car was first shown at the iSOFT Healthcare Forum, iNSPIRE’06, at the Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove on 27 September, with the Victorian car to be unveiled at the Docklands in Melbourne on Tuesday 12 December 2006. The car is one of three donated to the foundation, with two others located in Brisbane and Canberra.

The Victorian iSOFT car is already in use transferring patients and their carers to hospital, alleviating the pressure faced by those who are transport disadvantaged.

iSOFT nominated the Leukaemia Foundation as their preferred charity more than five years ago. Since that time, iSOFT employees have showed tremendous support towards the Leukaemia Foundation, volunteering their time and have raised sufficient funds to provide five patient courtesy patient transport vehicles.

Nigel Lutton, iSOFT Managing Director in Australia and New Zealand, said the company was committed to helping patients and their families living with blood cancers. “It is paramount that patients undergoing intensive treatment are safe and well cared for during such debilitating times. It’s also extremely rewarding to see the tangible result that iSOFT employee contributions have made to the foundation,” said Mr Lutton.

During the past five years, iSOFT cars have transported more than 1,000 families and travelled over 349,851 km.

Ian MacDonald, General Manager of the Leukaemia Foundation in Victoria, said the foundation was extremely grateful for iSOFT’s ongoing support in assisting the foundation to deliver their patient transport programme.

“During treatment, a patient's immune system is severely weakened. Travelling on public transport to and from treatment can be dangerous due to the increased risk of infection," said Mr MacDonald. “All services provided by the foundation are at no cost to patients and their families to ensure they receive the highest level of care during the most difficult of times. We look forward to working with iSOFT into the future.”

The Leukaemia Foundation patient transport programme began in December 1999, and since that time a team of dedicated, trained volunteers have driven patients to and from their medical, outpatient and other specialist appointments.

In 2006, more than 9,000 Australians are projected to be diagnosed with leukaemias, lymphomas and myeloma – the equivalent of nearly 25 people per day.