Salford Royal Hospital - Flow Meters x4

UPDATE: This equipment was delivered in 2006.

The neo natal unit at Hope Hospital, Salford, is a busy regional centre, accepting premature and very sick babies from hospitals across the North West. The unit has 19 cots in total, nine of which are intensive care, and the remaining 10 High Dependency. The unit can accept babies from as early as 23 weeks, and weighing as little as 450g.

The Ward Manager has asked us to provide respiratory equipment for treating babies effectively. These Low Flow Drivers administer oxygen to babies who have recently been moved from full incubator support. They allow the baby leave a full-oxygen environment, by inserting an oxygen feed through the nose. This is suitable for babies who are no longer seriously ill, but are still not able to fully breathe on their own.

The medical benefit of these is that the levels of oxygen administered are much more accurate, and it is much easier to monitor how much a baby can breathe alone. It means that babies are able to be discharged earlier, thus allowing the family to begin the process of bonding and caring for the baby. The other benefit within the ward is that for the first time the baby can be handled,fed and dressed by the parents outside of the incubator, and parents can learn vital parenting skills specific to premature babies while still enjoying the support of nursing staff. This eases the transition home, and helps parents to feel more confident about their ability to care for a sick baby.

Each low-flow driver will cost £175.16, and four are required.Therefore we are seeking £700.64 in total.