Andamooka couple, Geoff Britcher and Marianne Mullally, donated an Inter­national Normalised Ratio machine (INR) worth almost $1000 to the ACHS on Monday to give back to the community for the care and support Mr Britcher received after a near fatal health scare.

The INR machine checks levels of warfarin, a drug commonly used for monitoring of people who suffer from a range of cardiac conditions. A small sample of blood is taken and the INR machine measures the time it takes for the blood to clot.

ACHS remote area nurse, Di Williams, said the machine is “absolutely vital” for the clinic. She said currently blood sam­ples are sent to Roxby Downs by bus then flown to Adelaide where the tests are done and results received back in about 24 hours.

“Now we can do tests any time of the week,” she said. “Generally patients who are taking warfarin re­quire at least monthly blood tests to be sent off to Adelaide to check the levels, however having the machine will allow us to do those blood tests here ... and we will have the results in minutes.

“Now we can tell if the patient’s levels are too high or too low and adjust their medication accordingly, rather than having to wait 24 hours which may have devastating affects.”

Ms Williams said “nothing is full proof” but the machine will change the lives of patients on warfarin in Andamooka dramatically.

“It eliminates the need for travel and the inconveniences dramatically. It will save the clinic money because there are less freight costs involved in sending blood away.

“We could have done with it years ago … we certainly would not have got one in the near future, there are no funds.”

Ms Williams and fellow ACHS remote area nurse, Dianne Bilka, were very grateful for the donation.

Marianne Mullally and Geoff Britcher said they “can’t thank the Andamooka Community Health Service enough.”

If it wasn’t for the vigilant care Mr Britcher received immediately he “would not be with us today,” Ms Mullally said.