Brighter Lives at Townsville University Hospital
Each year, Townsville University Hospital cares for more than 800 pre-term and unwell babies from North Queensland. They treat some of the smallest and sickest babies in the state.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is the state's only NICU outside of southeast Queensland, servicing south to the Mackay region and north to the Torres Strait.
We are proud to partner with Brighter Lives, a foundation providing volunteer services and raising funds to help create a better experience for patients, staff, and visitors at Townsville University Hospital.
Equipping the NICU with Angel Eyes
Through our partnership, all 50 cots within the NICU, including the Special Care Nursery, have been equipped with Angel Eye technology.
Angel Eye represents a significant breakthrough for Townsville University Hospital, connecting families to their pre-term and critically unwell babies via a smart device application.
Through web-based cameras, it aims to achieve several crucial goals: reducing the length of hospital stays, minimising infection risks, addressing mental health concerns and enhancing parental satisfaction.
Stephanie Naunton, Brighter Lives Chief Executive Officer, said the COVID 19 pandemic was a major driver in implementing the initiative.
“During the COVID 19 pandemic, the Neonatal Unit had a strict visitor policy that only provided limited access for parents,” Stephanie said.
“These cameras have especially created extra benefit and connection for families who live in rural and remote parts of Queensland and are unable to travel to visit loved ones in NICU.
“When your baby or babies are in the NICU it’s important to have support from extended family. Angel Eye was an opportunity to keep families connected through vision of their infant when circumstances cause physical separation.”
From left to right: Amorita Asera and Saila Miskin with babies Elina and Elana, Craig Strudwick, Social Performance Manager, Glencore Coal, Dr Matt Bryant, Deputy Chair, Brighter Lives.
State-of-the-art NICU care
We are proud to have invested almost $200,000 to bolster equipment at Townsville University Hospital NICU.
Along with Angel Eyes technology, six smart tablets allow on-call neonatologists to remotely access crucial images and lab results, ensuring timely guidance for babies within the NICU and those awaiting transfer from referring hospitals.
The addition of an ECG machine allows real-time monitoring of babies' heart rates, offering critical insights into their cardiac health.
For those newborns who require cooling therapy, the Tecotherm cooling machine has become a lifesaver during transfers. The ability to initiate cooling earlier, even before arriving at the NICU, has shown to significantly improve health outcomes.
With the installation of ten Calesca milk warmers and two breast milk fridges, parents can easily offer their babies the nourishment they need. This is particularly beneficial for babies receiving pasteurized donor milk from the Red Cross.
Glencore is proud to partner with Brighter Lives to ensure that patients and their families have the equipment and care they need.