First pulse oximetry machines donated in Scotland

Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert has received five new pulse oximetry machines, thanks to our support. The five monitors are the first machines donated in Scotland as part of our campaign to ensure that all newborns receive the test that could help save their life.

These simple monitors, that can help detect serious heart conditions soon after birth, will be used alongside the hospital’s existing monitors to help improve early detection rates of congenital heart disease. NHS Forth Valley are one of the few maternity units that have been using pulse oximetry monitors as part of the pre-discharge examinations carried out on all babies born within Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

Robbie Duffy, NHS Forth Valley Service Manager and Senior Midwife, said: “We were already aware of Tiny Tickers because of their work and training within the field of heart defects and were delighted to accept their donation of additional oximeters for use within our local Maternity Unit.

“While we have been carrying out oxygen tests on all newborn babies born at Forth Valley Royal Hospital for some time, the extra machines are much appreciated and will provide additional resources which will support the work of our staff.”

First to benefit from our new machines were Shona Harvey, her partner Craig Wyllie and their baby daughter Erin Wyllie who was born on 12th March 2019. Pictured with Anne Clubb, Senior Charge Nurse, Women and Children’s Unit, Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

Jon Arnold, Chief Executive from Tiny Tickers says: “We are truly delighted that we are able to help in this way and hope that it supports the team to continue to provide the best possible care for babies on the unit.”

With the success of our project to place pulse oximetry machines in hospitals we are now opening up our application process for NHS Trusts to acquire machines for newborn testing. We work to improve the early detection and treatment of babies with congenital heart disease (CHD). We recognise the important role that pulse oximetry testing of newborns can have in detection of CHD – so this fund is suitable for NHS Trusts wishing to acquire machines for newborn testing.

If you work for an NHS Trust or in a frontline maternity unit that does not currently offer the test, then we may be able to fund machines for you. Please let us know by filling out this application here or emailing pulseox@tinytickers.org with the name of the hospital and contact details of the maternity unit. You can see where we have already funded machines by visiting our Pulse Oximetry map of machines placed.