Burnley General Hospital - Neo Natal Ventilator

UPDATE:  This equipment was delivered in 2005

The Neo-Natal Department at Burnley General Hospital treats up to 13 babies at any time, with three intensive care beds. Up to 200 pre-term and seriously ill babies are treated each year on the unit. Patients come to the hospital from across Lancashire and West Yorkshire, and often much further afield if beds are unavailable locally.

By providing the latest in Neo-natal medical technology, we can significantly reduce the need for babies to be moved to other hospital sites. Often improvements in patient care happen more quickly than NHS budgets can keep pace with. At present the ward does not have any equipment that can perform this function effectively, and staff have been forced to borrow a ventilator from a neighbouring hospital on a short-term basis. This will shortly have to be returned.

 

Staff on the ward feel that to have modern ventilation facilities available would be of huge benefit to the new-born. Often a baby only needs ventilation for a short period of time, and to perform this on-site would eliminate the need for a transfer, thus allowing mother and baby to stay together. This helps the bonding process, and allows the mother to breast-feed which is particularly important for a premature baby.

 

The SLE Ventilator assists very small or very sick babies with their breathing until they are capable of breathing alone. It works by placing a tube in the mouth to administer oxygen, and also monitors blood gases, so staff can respond quickly and effectively to the needs of tiny babies. 

 

This equipment is used for pre-term babies who may have insufficiently developed lungs. It is also used for babies who are full term but who have had a difficult labour. Often a short-term intervention with a ventilator can have a huge impact on the long-term health of a baby.

 

The ventilator costs £19,500.00.