IHF is thrilled to announce that the Special Care Nursery at Ipswich Hospital has received new, specialised equipment to provide extra care for their littlest and most vulnerable patients.
The new Panda Infant Resuscitaire helps to enhance care for newborns who need some additional help with their breathing, while keeping them warm and reducing the need for them to be moved between different pieces of equipment during care. It allows easier access for staff, and means infants are handled less during stressful times.
Around 25% of babies born at Ipswich Hospital spend time in the Special Care Nursery and it’s these newborns who will benefit most from the new equipment.
As well as raising funds through appeals and events, Ipswich Hospital Foundation sources funding through grants to help fund the purchase of vital equipment and innovations that benefit the West Moreton region and help bring much needed healthcare closer to home.
It is thanks to one such grant from Children’s Hospital Foundation (CHF) that Ipswich Hospital Foundation has been able to coordinate the purchase and delivery of the Panda Infant Resuscitaire for the Special Care Nursery.
This equipment will benefit countless newborns when they need it most, just like baby Noreen who was born at the Ipswich Hospital in early June 2024.
The new Panda Infant Resuscitaire
Baby Noreen
Baby Noreen was born following a Caesarean section, and, despite being born at full-term, required a little extra help with her breathing. As soon as she was born, Noreen was placed onto the Panda Infant Resuscitaire (CPAP) that she needed.
The new equipment meant that Noreen was able to relax in the Special Care Nursery (SCN) with her dad, as she waited for Mum to come back from theatre. The Special Care Nursery staff were able to observe her breathing whilst keeping her warm and comfortable, with Dad on hand to give her cuddles. The new equipment meant that Noreen was able to stay in the nursery for just a few hours of observation before being reunited with her mum.
Community donors have backed innovative clinicians at West Moreton Health to launch tech advances and services to give more people access to quality care.
Ten projects, including a game-changing new technology used in breast cancer surgery and the introduction of cutting-edge cardiac equipment used during the placements of stents, will change the way care is delivered in West Moreton.
Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) Chief Executive Officer Scott Young said the projects had been funded through its new Impact Funding grants program, which aimed to improve health outcomes and patient experiences through community involvement.
“It’s thanks to the incredible support and generosity of this community that Ipswich Hospital Foundation can support West Moreton Health teams to pursue some incredible new projects dedicated to improving health outcomes, right across the region,” Mr Young said.
Mr Young said the Impact Funding grants program had been funded by supporters and generous donors from its annual tax and Christmas appeals and funds raised at events such as Go Pink, Park2Park, and the IHF 25th gala anniversary dinner.
“We’re extremely grateful to the community and excited to continue our work to bring better healthcare closer to home.”
Dr Yohan Chacko and Dr Johanne Neill from the Cardiac Cath Lab with Ipswich Hospital Foundation Chief Executive Officer Scott Young.
“Tech advances and equipment delivered through the IHF Impact Funding will give more people in the community access to the best possible healthcare they need, and sooner,” Ms Bloch said.
“We are thrilled to partner with Ipswich Hospital Foundation and would like to thank the many donors from across the region for the important role they play helping the West Moreton Health population achieve the best possible health.
“IHF is also supporting our staff to improve their clinical capabilities by accessing latest technologies and pursing innovation.”
What is Impact Funding?
Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s Impact Funding is a quarterly funding program, allowing West Moreton Health employees and departments an opportunity to apply for funding for innovative medical equipment, enhancing patient and support persons’ care, health promotion and research and innovation.
Funding aligns with West Moreton population key health priorities including:
Care closer to home
First Nation’s health equity
Chronic disease
Mental health
Patient and support persons’ experience
Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s Impact Funding will deliver the following programs:
Ipswich Hospital will be the first public hospital in Queensland to offer the SCOUT wire-free breast localisation technology, an innovative piece of equipment that will eliminate the need for existing hookwire procedures, and significantly reduce stress and discomfort for breast cancer patients.
cutting-edge technology that enables doctors to see detailed images of the inside of blood vessels, allowing them to visualise the exact location and size of blockages and precisely guide the placement of stents to restore blood flow to the heart.
new equipment to improve the lives of patients with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) as the result of a chronic condition.
new adaptive aids for patients with upper limb impairment to improve their independence.
a new screening device to enhance diagnosis and wound treatment by the Wound Care Nurse Team
an education and awareness program on kidney health for Samoan Australians
creating a more welcoming waiting area for rehabilitation patients.
additional training innovations for X-ray operators
funding to support Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Day in 2024
In addition to these 10 key projects, IHF and WMH are delighted to announce Speech Pathology and Audiology Director Dr Katrina Dunn is the recipient of IHF’s grant for mental health research.
The $30,000 grant is made possible by funds raised at IHF’s 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner held in 2023.
The grant will allow Dr Dunn and her team to study dysphagia presentation and management in adult patients who experience significant mental health impacts.
The Ipswich Hospital Foundation (IHF) has secured $30,000 worth of equipment for West Moreton Health hospitals at Gatton, Laidley and Esk.
IHF Chief Executive Officer Scott Young said visitor chairs, sofas and televisions were among the items requested by the rural directors of nursing when grant applications were compiled, along with a pressure care chair for Laidley Hospital.
“We are over the moon to be supplying the rural hospitals and their communities with this equipment,” Mr Young said.
“These items will go a long way towards improving the experience of patients and their loved ones when they visit our facilities.”
Mr Young said the IHF was also co-ordinating the revitalisation of three gardens at Gatton Hospital next week by 30 Year 10 students who are studying at the Australian Industry Trade College. Bunnings Plainland has kindly donated the mulch, plants and equipment.
Work on a reflection garden at Laidley Hospital is due to commence in July.
Director of Nursing at Gatton Hospital, Deb Woods, said she was very grateful for the work of the IHF, the generosity of Bunnings and the kindness of students and staff at the Australian Industry Trade College.
“We look forward to offering patients and their loved ones a more comfortable stay with us as well as some beautiful new gardens that all the community can enjoy,” Ms Woods said.
Mr Young said the IHF had submitted a further $332,000 worth of grant applications, which, if successful, would benefit all five West Moreton Health hospitals as well as its research and innovation program.
“Despite our charity’s legacy name, we represent all of the hospitals in the West Moreton region in our funding applications, our fundraising activities and through the work of our generous community volunteers,” Mr Young said.
The IHF has aligned its strategic direction with that of West Moreton Health to concentrate on enabling targeted, evidence-based initiatives that would benefit the health service and community.
For more information on the IHF’s fundraising efforts, visit their website.
Regional hospitals in Boonah, Gatton, Esk, and Laidley now have new technology thanks to a Rotary District Grant to allow specialist doctors at Ipswich Hospital to read hard copy medical records in real-time.
