The Friends of Alfie Martin continually works towards improving and maintaining the best possible facilities for neo-natal care in Yorkshire. Working closely with specialist hospital units, we identify key equipment that either needs to be replaced or upgraded to allow critically ill babies access to the best possible care.
Miris human breast milk analyser
miris-analyser
  • This allows bedside analysis of donor (and maternal) breast milk to tell us about the protein and fat content, allowing us, where appropriate, to fortify the milk with additional protein to promote essential growth.
  • £12,500 each
Transilluminator light
  • A very bright light source that can be used to identify veins and to check for a pneumothorax (air pocket around the lung) in preterm babies. The unit has one already but would like to buy a second.
  • £899 each
Intensive care monitors
  • Multiparameter physiological monitors to measure and display the baby’s heart rate, oxygen saturation level, ECG, and blood pressure. We need new monitors in some of the newly developed areas of the unit.
  • approx. £8,000-£10,000 each depending on specification
Intensive care remote ‘slave’ monitor screen
  • This would allow nurses to easily see a baby’s vital functions even when they are nursed in isolation. This is an important safety consideration.
  • approx. £5,000 each
Centralised monitoring system
  • This would allow nurses to monitor all the monitors in ICU from a centralised point – this is a safety improvement and will also be a stepping stone to us adopting an integrated electronic patient record that will record and integrate ventilator settings, physiological measures and blood results into the patient’s clinical record automatically.
  • approx. £20,000
Massimo Radical 7 oxygen saturation monitors
radical-7-a
  • For monitoring the babies’ oxygen level to allow targeted treatment either in the NICU or on delivery suite.
  • approx. £1,500 each
Freestanding operating light
  • Similar in brightness to the lights used in operating theatres, but fully portable to allow procedures to be carried out safely at the cotside.
  • £1,540 each
Fischer-Paykel oxygen blenders
  • To allow babies to receive an exact concentration of oxygen, especially during emergency resuscitation. An important safety improvement. Potentially need 12 to allow one at each ICU space.
  • £1,000 each
Expired carbon dioxide monitoring equipment
  • To be able to monitor the baby’s carbon dioxide level without performing frequent blood tests – increasing safety and comfort for the baby. Ideally would like 2-4 of these.
  • £1,840 each
Video laryngoscope
  • To aid intubation of babies’ airway.
  • £2,000-£6,000 depending on model
Laerdal preterm training manikin
  • To teach resuscitation and intubation.
  • approx. £1,000 each
Textbooks for nurses library
  • To aid education within the unit.
  • £40-£150 depending on title
Portable ‘wee-lights’
  • LED light, battery powered and cleanable, to illuminate veins in preterm babies.
  • £80 each
Littmann baby sized stethoscopes
  • We keep a stethoscope by each babies’ cot to reduce cross infection. High quality stethoscopes improve disgnosis. Ideally need 10-20.
  • £50 each
Other items
  • Milk warmers – For warming baby milk at cot-side. £250
  • Developmental ‘nests’ – Sort of bean bags for babies to lie in. Shown to improve positioning and development. £50 each
  • Zacy Hands – Developmental bean bag hands to help give babies position and security. £80 each (Aim would be to allow parents to take them home)
  • High stools – Padded to go by each cot. £350
  • Recliner chairs – For breastfeeding. £802.10
  • Lockers for parents. £500
  • Apnoea monitors. £800
  • Microwave – For parents room. £200
  • Wall décor – For various rooms. £200-£500
  • Dimmable lighting. £200
  • Breast pumps. £150
  • Preterm sized cotton hats and scratch mitts (ideally white). £6 per pack