The new piece of medical equipment has been funded by the hospital’s League of Friends Charity. The portable state-of-the-art machine will allow clinicians to deliver immediate resuscitation and care to newborns right at their mother’s bedside, even with the umbilical cord attached, significantly enhancing the early care experience for both babies and families.
Currently, the Trust uses a standing neonatal resuscitation device, which due to logistics and its large size, the umbilical cord needs to be cut before the baby is then transferred to have ongoing support if required.
The LifeStart Resuscitator Trolley, which costs £12,250, is equipped with a range of advanced features that allow healthcare professionals to perform life-saving procedures quickly and efficiently. This includes the ability to perform delayed cord clamping, which helps maximise blood flow from the placenta to the baby, as well as also being fitted with a heated mattress to keep the baby warm, an essential component for newborns, particularly those born prematurely.
Dr Risa Birbal, Consultant Paediatrician at The QEH, who spearheaded the request for the equipment, expressed her gratitude, saying: “We are thrilled to receive this generous support, which enables us to deliver critical care in those first, fragile moments of life. The LifeStart Resuscitator Trolley will make a profound difference in how we care for premature babies, ensuring that we can provide life-saving interventions while allowing parents to stay close to their newborns during these critical early stages.”
Dr Birbal continued: “When premature babies are born, they often require immediate assistance with breathing and heart rate. The trolley allows us to provide this crucial support right at the bedside, while also allowing us to perform delayed cord clamping – an intervention that has been shown to provide significant health benefits for premature infants.”
The compact, mobile design of the LifeStart Resuscitator Trolley ensures that it can be placed beside the mother during birth, promoting the important connection between parent and child even in the most challenging of circumstances. This new equipment will improve care for both the infants and their families, offering peace of mind during what can be an incredibly stressful and anxious time.
Penny Hipkin, Chair of the League of Friends, expressed her pride in supporting this initiative: “The LifeStart Resuscitator Trolley is exactly the kind of equipment that the League of Friends was established to fund. We are delighted to be able to contribute to the provision of this life-saving technology, which will have a lasting positive impact on our hospital’s tiniest and most vulnerable patients.”
She added: “Our ability to fund this purchase comes from the generosity of our local community, and we are incredibly proud of the difference we are making to these families during such a critical time.”
The League of Friends is pivotal to The QEH, raising essential funds through public donations, legacies, and proceeds from the hospital shop. Over the years, the League has raised over £3 million to support patient care and enhance hospital services.
For more information about the League of Friends or to learn how you can support the charity, please contact Carol Crake, Honorary Secretary, at carolcrake@sky.com.
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Notes to editors;
If you would like to raise funds for good causes or help an appeal at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, please take a look at our website www.qehklcharity.co.uk. Alternatively, please email our Charity team at Charity@qehkl.nhs.uk or call 01553 613309.
For media enquiries only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216.
For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613. Photo: (From left) Sunu Jaison – Sister, Dr Risa Birbal – Consultant Paediatrician, Louise Boswell – Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Sophie Hewlett – Midwife, Penny Hipkin – Chair of the League of Friends.
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