Donations are funding life changing equipment at Dorset County Hospital’s baby unit
They have purchased a new Brain Monitor and a Video Laryngoscope
Last updated 12th Aug 2022
The Special Care Baby Unit has been able to buy life changing new kit thanks to money raised by the community over the past year. It means that less babies need to travel outside of Dorset for treatment.
Hazel Hoskin and her son Thomas recently visited the unit to see the new equipment purchased after they raised £25,000 through a sunflower trail that they put on last year at Maiden Castle Farm, Dorchester.
The hospital chose to buy a special support brain monitor which wouldn’t have been available on the NHS budget.
It can scan and monitor brainwaves in premature babies to either detect problems that need attention or reassure parents that their newborn baby is ok.
The Unit was also able to buy a video Laryngoscope with other donations, which included £3500 raised by Gemma and James Barker to celebrate their son’s first birthday. Dylan was treated at the Special Care Baby Unit after he was born prematurely.
This piece of kit can help to delicately place a breathing tube in very young babies and deliver medicines for lung development.
Rachel Cole, who works for the hospital, told greatest hits radio that it’s important for Dorset to be able to keep treatment local rather than moving babies to other hospitals.
“When you transfer a very new baby, it can be quite stressful for the parents, following along behind in their car."
"To try to do as much work as possible in Dorchester improves outcomes for the babies and it’s good for everybody.”
A new sunflower trail has been created at maiden castle farm to raise money for the Children’s ward at Dorset County Hospital as well as Cherkasy hospital in Ukraine.
More information can be found on their website.