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UPDATE: This equipment was delivered in 2008.

Of the 4,000 babies born in the Bolton area each year, up to half will need to be tested for jaundice in the first weeks of life.   We are seeking funds to provide jaundice meters to quickly and accurately assess the condition of newborn babies in the home, to ensure the most seriously ill babies receive treatment quickly, and to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions for those who can remain at home.

Jaundice is caused by a build-up of bilirubin in the blood, causing a yellow appearance. In its mildest form it requires no treatment and clears up within a few days, but where it is more serious it can ultimately lead to liver damage, and the worst cases can cause liver failure and the need for a transplant. The condition is common in the first weeks of life, and is more common in breastfed babies, so rates are increasing with the increasing take-up of breastfeeding.

We have been asked to provide portable Jaundice Meters for use by the Community Nurse and Midwife team to take a reading in the baby’s home. This will instantly provide a measure of bilirubin levels to enable the nursing team to determine what treatment a baby needs. If serious enough a baby can then be admitted to the neo-natal unit for treatment using lamps, and this can be arranged immediately without the need to wait for blood test results. Most importantly it will save unnecessary hospital visits and admissions in the first week or two of life, at a time of extreme stress and adjustment for new parents.

The Jaundice Meter costs £3,000 and we have agreed to provide three, to ensure they are available wherever needed. The total cost of the items needed is £9,000.