Media Release

 

May 16, 2011

 

New monitors for newborns

 

Ten new cardiovascular monitors were donated to the John Hunter Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on March 14 2011. At $20,000 apiece, the state-of-the-art monitors provide constant vigilance over the premature or ill babies in the unit.

Three babies are admitted to John Hunter Children’s Hospital every day on average, making its neonatal unit one of the busiest in the State.

“These monitors are vital to see how babies respond to treatment 24/7,” Dr Paul Craven, Deputy Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) said.

Heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, oxygen level and temperature are constantly measured by the new monitors. Alerts are given if deterioration is detected, and trends are shown over time. The system can be centralised to observe every patient at once, and portable devices can be detached when transporting the baby for tests.

“These are some of the most vital pieces of equipment we have in the NICU,” Dr Craven said.

In one year approximately 1100 babies will be admitted and placed on a monitor during their stay in the NICU, which can be anywhere between one to 150 days. According to Dr Craven, having access to best-practise technologies is integral when treating so many patients with so many varying illnesses.

“Our neonatal unit is considered a world-class facility, mainly because of the high level of care we provide,” Dr Craven said. “We are constantly seeking corporate and community support so we can maintain these standards.”

In this instance, mining company Xstrata Coal provided the hospital with a cheque for $200,000 for the express purpose of buying the new cardiovascular monitors.

“We are extremely grateful Xstrata Coal shares our belief that when it comes to the care of newborn babies, there should be no compromises,” Dr Craven said.

There are 41 beds in the NICU, and the aim is for each bed to have a new cardiovascular monitor, so the staff can standardise the care provided, equipment used and training required. For more information about donating to the John Hunter Children’s Hospital Neonatal Unit, please visit www.kaleidoscope.org.au.

 

Media inquiries:

Lucas Coleman, 02 49213844, 0407895101 (ref HNE-2555)