Equipment to help save the lives of West Norfolk babies born before their due date is now in place.
The LIfestart Resuscitator Trolley means doctors and nurses can offer life-saving care at the bedside even if the baby’s umbilical cord is still attached.
The £12,250 piece of equipment is in place at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn and has been funded by the hospital’s League of Friends.
Currently, the Trust uses a standing neonatal resuscitation device, which due to logistics and its large size, means the umbilical cord must be cut before support can be given.
The new trolley means delayed cord clamping can happen. This will maximise blood flow from the placenta to the baby, as well as also being fitted with a heated mattress to keep the baby warm, an essential component for newborns, particularly those born prematurely.
Dr Risa Birbal, Consultant Paediatrician at The QEH, who spearheaded the request for the equipment, said: “We are thrilled to receive this generous support, which enables us to deliver critical care in those first, fragile moments of life. The LifeStart Resuscitator Trolley will make a profound difference in how we care for premature babies, ensuring that we can provide life-saving interventions while allowing parents to stay close to their newborns during these critical early stages.”
“When premature babies are born, they often require immediate assistance with breathing and heart rate. The trolley allows us to provide this crucial support right at the bedside, while also allowing us to perform delayed cord clamping – an intervention that has been shown to provide significant health benefits for premature infants.”
Penny Hipkin, Chair of the League of Friends, said: “The LifeStart Resuscitator Trolley is exactly the kind of equipment that the League of Friends was established to fund. We are delighted to be able to contribute to the provision of this life-saving technology, which will have a lasting positive impact on our hospital’s tiniest and most vulnerable patients.”
She added: “Our ability to fund this purchase comes from the generosity of our local community, and we are incredibly proud of the difference we are making to these families during such a critical time.”
