Another Successful Year for Friends

Yet another successful year of fundraising by the Friends  for the 2017/18 financial year has resulted in the handover of more equipment to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH).

The funds were raised by the two volunteer shops (Shops Auxiliary Division) located within the hospital, the 27 auxiliary groups (Auxiliary Division) operating around the state and generous donors. Some of the items purchased which were handed over at the Auxiliaries State Council meeting include two Resuscitation Cots, a Video Laryngoscope with four additional blades and two Transport Incubators. Scroll down to view the official handover.

Resuscitation Cots

Unwell babies within the WCH frequently need to receive simultaneous, urgent intervention to help keep them alive via the administration of multiple drugs or fluids.

“In a setting that is already very busy and crowded with other items of monitoring or treatment equipment, anything that makes this environment simple and safe is of prodigious use” says Adrian Richards, Manager of Biomedical Engineering at WCH.

The Cots have multiple built-in features that facilitate the administration of treatment to stabilise the infants to a health that is considered to be acceptable and managed.

Chad Anderson, Medical Unit Head of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) explains

“there are complex babies that require these cots and sometimes there are mothers that will deliver accidentally, so it’s important that both mother and baby get care in the hospital. They are located in Paediatric Emergency so that when an ambulance brings a baby in from home or a home birth it can go straight into the cot. The condition of a neonate may change at any point in time, thus the treatment needs to be able to be administered quickly and fast to accommodate for rapid changes in health. The cot is compact, highly effective at recovery and mobile enough that they could be used in different parts of the ward”.

When the time requires it, the unit features immediate heating, lighting and vital signs monitoring. Storage facilities are also included in the units, so all resuscitation supplies are ready at any given time.

Video Laryngoscope

Accessing a patient’s airway is a lifesaving procedure and this device enables it to be done far more readily when seconds really count. It performs the function of a normal laryngoscope, but with the inclusion of a video camera and monitor to give the clinician the best possible assistance in the most difficult cases. The system is utilised in the Paediatric Emergency Department.

“Incorporating the C-MAC system has allowed for images to be transmitted to a large video screen, by putting the images up on a screen (instead of looking over someone’s shoulder which can be burdensome) so that staff and junior trainees of the Paediatric Emergency can see and learn the technique of administering breathing tubes to patients’ throats” Chad explains .

The device also requires the use different blades depending on the varying structure of throats so four additional blades were also purchased by Friends.

Transport Incubators

Transport Incubators are the next level of care for the infants that are born premature at the WCHl,

“these incubator units are as small and compact as possible for transport. The baby is enclosed in a shell of plastic, to facilitate rapid oxygen treatment” explains Adrian. “It is important that when babies are born in the theatres and transported up to the unit they are provided with a warm and stable environment, protected from incidental germs and viruses that could be present” adds Chad.

Relocation of neonate babies is also sometimes necessary to help provide an increase or change in the type of care to the infants within the hospital. These incubators for babies help provide a mobility option and transport of fluids and medications during and after relocation.The carefully controlled environment has temperature control settings, humidity settings, and administration if necessary of oxygen to keep the neonate safe, warm, snuggled up and comfortable.

The overall aim is to purchase six of these incubators which will be strategically located around the hospital to ensure the same device and technology is being used by the hospital staff.

It is with great deal of satisfaction that the Friends Council after consulting with the divisional committees are able to select these types of equipment. The funds raised by our hard working volunteers and members during the 2017/18 financial year have been allocated towards these purchases.

“Supporting projects and equipment purchases that directly support the South Australian public is paramount for the Friends Council and our members” explains Pauline Linke, Friends President.

If you would like to donate to Friends so we can continue to purchase more of these important pieces of equipment please click on the donate link  or contact the Friends office on 8161 8445.

To  view the equipment donated by the Queen Victoria Auxiliary Division click here.

Thank you everyone that has made a tax deductible donation to Friends allowing for the purchase of these and other equipment items.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuPpzo9F0oM