60 underprivileged heart patients and their families were treated to a simple tea reception as well as received hampers comprising basic necessities such as rice, canned soup and biscuits from the National Heart Centre (NHC) this festive season.
Held on 30 December 2004, the charity tea reception, known as the ‘Hearts at Work’ Project, was spearheaded by the National Heart Centre’s Medical Social Services department. The idea came about when the Medical Social Workers wanted to do something for the less fortunate during this festive season.
All of the 60 heart patients are on 100% Medifund assistance (i.e. all their outpatient treatments and drug costs are covered by Medifund), have families with children aged 12 and below and are dependent on a sole breadwinner for income. In addition, some of these patients are certified as permanently disabled and cannot work for life.
To share the spirit of goodwill and festive cheer with these underprivileged patients, the staff of the National Heart Centre came together to contribute and personally wrap food hampers for the heart patients, amounting to a total cost of $1800. The hampers were personally wrapped by 30 NHC staff for over 3 hours.
The need to remember the less fortunate has in recent times become more and more important since the number of applicants for Medifund assistance has grown significantly. In Financial Year (FY) 2001, a total of 5450 applications were received and over $700,000 of financial assistance was rendered. In FY 2003 however, a total of 7984 applications were received and over $1.1 million worth of financial aid was given.
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Patient Care
