Doctor delivers 17 babies on Variety Bash

John Hunter Children’s Hospital Neonatologist Paul Craven is taking his stethoscope and training manual on next week’s Variety Bash, to deliver 17 ‘infant resuscitation babies’ to hospitals en route.

The Variety Bash – a seven day charity drive – will this year stop at hospitals at Taree, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Grafton and Glen Innes to deliver resuscitation equipment and training to health staff.

Staff from other hospitals in the district will also attend the training sessions, and collect their very own resuscitation doll, worth $4,500.

Dr Paul Craven said Variety’s gift will help facilitate ongoing training, knowledge sharing and ultimately improve the great care already provided to babies born in medical distress.

“When a baby is born in medical distress in a regional facility, local staff work to stabilise the baby while specialist neonatal teams travel by helicopter or road ambulance to assist,” Dr Craven said.

“The first moments are critical for a newborn, so it is important that key staff across our health service are skilled in infant resuscitation and airway management,” he said.

Dr Craven and the neonatal team from the John Hunter Children’s Hospital, regularly conduct training sessions at hospitals across the Hunter New England, and since 2005 have reached more than 500 staff.

The Variety donation of an infant resuscitation baby per hospital means staff can practise their resuscitation skills after Dr Craven and the team leave, as well as train new staff as they enter the workforce.

“Variety are supporting our education program by giving local staff the resources to continue practising the skills they learn, as well as share these skills with other key staff,” Dr Craven said.

“At the end of the day, the education program is about giving babies born prematurely or in medical distress the best chance possible and we are sincerely grateful for Variety’s unwavering support,” he said.

Media Opportunity:
Dr Craven is available for interview, please call 4921 3844.

Vision:
John Hunter Children’s Hospital is hosting a Farewell BBQ for Dr Craven and Variety at the front of John Hunter Hospital (near the Ambulance Bay) Thursday May 15 at 11am.
Vision of the resuscitation dolls, neonatal intensive care unit and Dr Craven’s bash car is available.

Media inquiries:
Sarah Beames - 02 4921 3844, 0407 482513 (ref: HNE- 1386)