Council computers retired to Arohanui Hospice

Horizons Regional Council has donated 20 computer sets to Arohanui Hospice to replace out-of-date computer equipment Hospice staff are currently using.

Horizons IT team leader William Gordon says the sets were no longer suitable or compatible with the council’s network, and he was delighted they could be used by the Hospice.

“Not only is donating these computers to Arohanui Hospice environmentally friendly, it also supports a fantastic organisation that does so much for our community,” he says.

Advantage Computers, a local company that supplies Horizons with technical support and equipment, approached the IT team with the idea of donating computers earlier in the year.

“We’ve been supporting Arohanui Hospice for a number of years with their IT systems and we knew they needed to replace some of their current computers,” says Advantage Computers sales manager Chris Stewart.

“However we also knew the Hospice is under serious funding constraints so when Horizons started looking at upgrading, we asked them if they’d be interested in donating their old equipment.”

Each donated set included a computer screen, thin client, keyboard and mouse. Arohanui Hospice chief executive Clare Randall says buying the equipment would have cost the Hospice around $10,000.

“Every year we have a shortfall of $2.3 million which we have to fundraise for, so thanks to this donation that’s $10,000 we don’t have to find,” says Ms Randall.

“This donation, combined with free set-up from Advantage Computers, Wi-Fi from Inspire Net, and upgraded phone systems from ICONA, means our staff have the ability to work remotely. The majority of our patients are cared for in the community so this technology enables our staff to have secure access to information from anywhere.

“We are so grateful for the generosity and support that we have received.”

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