Pikes Lane Centre, Bolton - Apnoea Monitors and Sensors

UPDATE: This equipment was delivered in 2005.

We have been approached by the Community Nursing Team at Pikes Lane Centre in Bolton for help in providing six Apnoea Monitors.

When babies are premature, they must spend the early weeks or months in the Neo Natal Unit. At present they must remain on the unit until they are well enough to go home without monitoring. However, once they are stabilised often all that is required is a monitor to ensure breathing is regular. The provision of these monitors for the community care team will enable young babies to go home with their families for the first time often several weeks earlier, easing the strain on the family, and allowing the bonding process to begin.

These meters would allow all babies to be sent home to their families earlier. A premature baby is at much greater risk of cot death, and there is a very real danger to allowing babies to go home without these monitors. The result is that babies are spending longer in hospital than is necessary. Having a sick baby in hospital can delay the bonding process and be hugely upsetting to older siblings. The sooner a baby can get home the sooner a mother can begin to breastfeed naturally and begin family life.

Each family will keep the monitor for an average of 3-4 months. This means that in total this project will help an average of 21 families each year to leave hospital earlier and regain some normality at a very difficult time.

We have agreed to provide six of the monitors. The total cost will be £3,787.00.