Lighting the way

Seda from Northern Hospital’s Domiciliary Services with the donated Bilisoft LED Phototherapy System. (Supplied)

Michaela Meade

Northern Hospital Epping is set to receive a jaundice treatment device valued at almost $10,000.

The Humpty Dumpty Foundation and Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia will donate a Bilisoft LED Phototherapy system which provides cutting edge light therapy for babies with jaundice.

Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes that, if undetected, can cause cerebral palsy, deafness and/or brain damage in infants.

It occurs in 50 per cent of full-term babies and 80 per cent of preterm babies in their first week of life.

Maternity services nurse unit manager at Northern Hospital, Michelle Morrow said, “We are delighted to receive this kind donation from the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.”

“The Bilisoft unit will help us provide additional community-based, family-centred care whilst avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions for our neonates.

“We send our sincere appreciation to the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.”

Humpty Dumpty Foundation founder and executive chairman Paul Francis OAM said, “it is with thanks to the generosity of donors like Hitachi that the Humpty Dumpty Foundation can… make a real difference to hospitals and healthcare services across Australia.”

“Now more than ever, hospitals and healthcare services need Humpty’s help and it is important we continue our critical work of providing essential and often life-saving medical equipment to metropolitan and regional areas across Victoria to support our healthcare professionals.”

Details: www.humpty.com.au or 9419 2410