December 13, 2018
Yesterday, Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation dedicated the Northern Hospital Paediatric Emergency High Acuity Unit in memory of Constable Neil Clinch, who at 22 years of age died in the line of duty.
For many years now the work of the Blue Ribbon Foundation has been a collaboration between our community’s protectors and its healers, and Northern Health is honoured to have the first Victoria Police Blue Ribbon dedication in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
In honour of Constable Neil Clinch, Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation donated $150,000 to the Northern Health Foundation, to support the Paediatric Emergency High Acuity Unit.
The police memorial dedication and awards ceremony, held at Northern Hospital Epping, welcomed representatives from the Blue Ribbon Foundation, members of Victoria Police, local community representatives, Northern Health staff and Clinch family members.
Commemorative plaques in Neil’s honour were revealed during the ceremony and the Clinch family had the opportunity to visit the Pediatric Emergency Department, with the High Acuity Unit now named in memory of Constable Neil Clinch.
“This project will greatly benefit the children who require resuscitation with a dedicated space within the paediatric emergency department,” said Northern Health Board and Foundation Board Director, Peter McWilliam.
“We thank Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation and the Northern Metro Branch for their generous donation and for choosing Northern Health to honour the memory of Constable Neil Francis Clinch.”
The project includes state of the art monitoring capability to four cubicles, allowing clinicians to manage high acuity presentations, high flow oxygen equipment to support management of asthma and bronchitis patients who require respiratory support, and neonatal resuscitaire for the monitoring and management of unwell newborns and infants.
The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation preserves the memory of members of Victoria Police who have died in the line of duty through the support of community projects within Victoria.
For many years now, the work of the Blue Ribbon Foundation has been a collaboration between our community’s protectors and its healers.
