The Alfred, Melbourne

The Alfred continues to be overwhelmed by the generous community support the hospital received during Dry July. The support has helped to improve a number of well-used areas for patients and their loved ones across the hospital.

Recently, the reception and waiting areas in the Alfred Health Radiation Oncology building were given a new lease of life thanks to the generosity of people going ‘Dry in July’. The upgrade includes: a lower desk, so patients in wheelchairs can interact with reception staff easily; new comfortable furnishings; and a mobile phone bar, so patients, their families and carers can always be contactable (allowing for at least one less worry for patients and loved ones). We hope the new and improved changes will make the space a little more welcoming, functional and, most importantly, comfortable for all who use it. 

Thank you again to the Dry July Foundation for their partnership with The Alfred and to all of the remarkable people across the state who raised funds by abstaining from drinking alcohol throughout July. Your generosity and dedication has helped make life a little better and a littler nicer for people living with cancer.

Congratulations on completing your challenge and thank you again for your magnanimous support of The Alfred this Dry July.

Year after year, we continue to be truly grateful for the amazing contribution the community has bestowed upon the hospital, and we would particularly like to thank each and every one of you for the specific role that you have played in helping ease the stresses and strains on those affected by cancer.

The Alfred looks after many thousands of people living with cancer every year, so we see first-hand the difficult fight that patients and their families face on a daily basis.

We also see the remarkable difference that small changes can make to a patients’ stay, particularly as they endure such a challenging time. And your Dry July efforts have helped make that battle a little easier for some, and for that we are so grateful.

Thanks to the support of Dry July and those of you who have participated, The Alfred has been able to make some really positive changes to improve a number of areas where our patients spend a great deal of time, including a tranquil garden for patients to relax in between treatments and a new kitchen for inpatients and their loved ones to be able to enjoy the simple pleasure of making themselves a cup of tea.

Our gratitude is also extended to everyone who sponsored a Dry July Supporter this year; your remarkable generosity should not go unremarked. On behalf of the staff and patients at The Alfred, thank you!

A/Prof Jeremy Millar (Director Radiation Oncology), Prof Harshal Nandurkar (Director Clinical Haematology) & Michelle Gold (Director of Palliative Care)

The Alfred has two priority projects that will benefit from Dry July funding this year:

- redevelopment of the Young Adults with Cancer area; and

- upgrading patient information and waiting areas in the Radiation Oncology area (lower ground floor).

The aim of both projects is to make these spaces more welcoming for cancer patients, their families and carers.

The patient kitchen in ward 7 East at The Alfred was recently renovated using funds from Dry July 2015.

The upgrade included installation of a duel water filter tap which provides filtered cold water and boiling water from a unit above the sink; adding more storage; building a shelf for the ice machine; including a shelf for the microwave to free up bench space; and fitting out an area for bin storage. Patients spend a lot of time on the ward and these simple upgrades to the kitchen area will make the space a little more welcoming and usable - now more than one person can use the kitchen at the same time!

Everyone at The Alfred continues to be amazed and very grateful at the support the community has shown us throughout Dry July. We would like to thank you for helping us to improve the facilities and surrounds in which our patients are treated. Your support assists people facing a very difficult journey and for that we are enormously appreciative.

The Alfred has been a beneficiary of Dry July for three years, because of you we have been able to make some amazing and positive changes to help improve the areas where our patients spend a great deal of time. The Alfred looks after many thousands of patients living with cancer and we see the difficult flight they are facing. The projects and support of Dry July has helped to make that battle a little better and for that we thank you.

Our gratitude is also extended to everyone who sponsored a family member, friend or colleague. Your contribution should not go unremarked. Your generosity is also welcomed by all of us and on behalf of the staff and patients at The Alfred, thank you!

A/Prof Jeremy Millar (Director Radiation Oncology) & Prof Harshal Nandurkar (Director Clinical Haematology)