Two RAD-5 Pulse Oximeters with Ear Sensors valued at $2140 each were donated by Hitachi Australia through the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.

Muswellbrook District Hospital maternity unit manager Janelle Alexander said the devices allowed staff to identify problems with paediatric and neonatal cases sooner, which would then allow prompt assistance.

“These machines allow us to measure the oxygen concentration in the bloodstream,” Mrs Alexander said.

“All babies have this reading attended at 24 hours of age, to help identify certain cardiac problems.

“This enables the early identification of any issues, and facilitates prompt treatment.”

Baby Myla arrived into the world on Wednesday, December 6, at 4.26am to proud parents Alex Stevenson and Brodie Smith, of Denman.

Alex, a nurse herself, is glad the maternity department has access to the new technology, possibly even more so now that she’s a new mum.

The handheld RAD-5 allows accurate measurement of a pulse rate, oxygen saturation and blood flow and also allows nurses to record arterial oxygen levels accurately and efficiently and quickly track any changes.

Hitachi managing director David Harvey said the company was privileged to be in a position to support the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. 

“Our company is a supplier and employer of choice in the area, and we wanted to be actively involved in supporting the Humpty Dumpty Foundation in delivering much needed medical equipment to local hospitals,” Mr Harvey said.

The Humpty Dumpty Foundation has raised more than $60 million and one of its breakthrough fundraising methods was the creation of ‘Humpty’s Wish List’ where each piece of essential medical equipment has been requested specifically by a hospital to meet an immediate need.  

The request is stringently assessed by the Humpty Dumpty Foundation’s medical sub-committee made up of senior medical administrators and clinical specialists, before it is added to ‘Humpty’s Wish List’.