LEADING GLOBAL HEALTHCARE SUPPLIER PERRIGO, with operations based in Wrafton near Braunton, has donated an amazing £17,800 to the Special Care Baby Unit Appeal at North Devon District Hospital.
The money donated by the Perrigo Charitable Foundation has been used towards the purchase of a Giraffe neonatal incubator.
Lead Ward Special Care Baby Unit Manager Liz Mills said “Our Special Care Baby Unit is delighted to receive a donation towards the Giraffe incubator from Perrigo. This state-of-the-art piece of equipment not only enables a premature baby to be incubated, but also includes a weigh-in facility and a phototherapy light to treat jaundice babies. It also means our nurses can now transport a premature baby easily from the delivery suite and A&E to other areas within the hospital without moving the baby onto another piece of equipment, enabling the newborn baby to be kept at a constant temperature and to be monitored at all times. We are thrilled to have an incubator which has so many facilities within it on our ward.”
Last year, the Special Care Baby Unit at North Devon District Hospital also received funding from Perrigo to purchase two hot cots and neonatal warming mattresses to keep babies who have been born prematurely, or with a low birth rate, at the correct temperature so that they do not become cold quickly.
Over 1,600 babies each year are born to mothers who are cared for by staff at North Devon District Hospital and by midwives working in the community. The Special Care Baby Unit currently treats approximately 250 babies a year (which equates to approximately 1 in 6 babies born at North Devon District Hospital each year). Because North Devon is geographically isolated, it is vital for the survival of our sickest babies that the Special Care Baby Unit offers the very best care that it can.
Perrigo HR Manager Rob McElfatrick visited the Special Care Baby Unit with Perrigo Employee Council Representative Mica Sanders and Perrigo Charitable Foundation Representative Anna Humes. Rob said “I have experienced at first-hand how important a Special Care Baby Unit is to the care of a newborn child. My son was treated in a SCBU Unit for many weeks and it is because of the wonderful care he received that he is now leading a healthy life. We are delighted that our Braunton employees chose to support this very worthwhile cause that contributes to Perrigo UK’s mission in making a difference to health.”
Over and Above Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “We are absolutely delighted to receive such a generous donation from Perrigo. The donation is already benefitting our most vulnerable and poorly babies. Perrigo has been very generous to the Hospital Charity, raising an amazing £41,608.23 over the past five years supporting our Special Care Baby Unit and the building of the Seamoor Chemotherapy & Day Treatment Unit.”
Photographs L-R:
Photo 1 with incubator: Perrigo Charitable Foundation Representative Anna Humes, Perrigo Employee Council Representative Mica Sanders, Perrigo HR Manager Rob McElfatrick, Over and Above Fundraising Manager Ian Roome and Lead SCBU Manager Liz Mills.