RPA BABY MATTERS RPA Newborn Care NICU News Dr Ingrid Rieger, Head of Department It has been a busy start to 2015, with the nursery almost always filled to capacity. For this reason the impending arrival of the new transport trolley, fitted with 2 incubators is very exciting. This will enable us to transport babies back to hospitals closer to their families once the intensive aspect of their care is complete. On behalf of my entire team I would like to say thank you so much to our donors and supporters for your generous donations, which have enabled us to purchase this vital equipment. As many of you know the experience of having a baby in intensive care is very difficult for the whole family, so being able to be closer to other children and relatives as well as to friends is so important for the wellbeing of the parents. This is especially true for families living outside Sydney. So having this ability to back- transport babies helps us not only to free up beds for the next unwell baby, but makes day to day caring for their growing up baby easier for families as well. We are all looking forward to the opening in the next few months of the iSAIL (Integrated Service After Infant Loss) Clinic. The clinic is specifically for parents who have either had a baby die in the newborn period, or have experienced the stillbirth of a baby. Dr Adrienne Gordon, who has been working in the area of perinatal loss for some years, will run the clinic, but input will be multidisciplinary from a range of professionals including obstetricians, social workers and psychologists. The iSAIL clinic will be located in Gloucester House, away from the main Mothers and Babies section of RPA hospital. Dr Gordon and her team have received funding for this clinic from Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club, who are generously funding the clinic for the first two years. This is an outstanding achievement from the club and we all thank them so much for enabling us to provide this much needed service. Nursing Department News Simon Burke & Lyndy Dixon, Nursing Unit Managers Over the past year we’ve continued on our busy path. At one point we had more babies on support than I can remember ever having in one day over the last ten years! As usual our nursing and ancillary staff soldier on and do our best to make every baby and family feel that they our number one priority. Fortunately we have a dedicated team of staff, several of whom manage to complete some post -graduate certificates. Cassie Molloy, Alaina Hesp, Lauren Coates – have received their Graduate Certificate in Neonatal Nursing. Cassie Molloy, Amanda Zhang, Erica Hadaway, Anna Williams, Kristen Bennie, Hae Jin Bae, Neethu Varghese, Sree Nair, Megan Ryan and Mellissa Tongol have completed the Intro to NICU Nursing course. Bonnie Sullivan and Penny Janes have completed Masters of Nursing- Nurse Practitioner. In addition Svea Bajic, Therese McCarthy, Kylie Davis and Colette Conn completed training Essentials of Care. This is a value based program where families and staff are able to express what they feel is important and help us to improve out service over time. Trish Mumford and Rachel Jones have worked hard to provide Donor Breast Milk to high-risk infants. The milk is pasteurised and allocated on a needs basis. Trish and Rachel have been working with Heather Taylor, Rachel Booysen, Esther Livingston and Kara Mobb to help to keep this service running. Despite being very time consuming for the staff, Donor Breast Milk provides a most valuable resource to our vulnerable patients. Simon Burke Dr Ingrid Rieger Lyndy Dixon NICU Update We are happy to announce that Dr Ingrid Rieger, our Developmental Pediatrician, is our new Head of Department replacing Dr Nick Evans in that role. Dr Evans continues to be an integral part of the neonatology team. We also welcome Dr Kavita Bhola back to RPA Newborn Care. AUTUMN 2015
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RPA BABY MATTERSRPANewbornCare
NICU NewsDr Ingrid Rieger, Head of Department
It has been a busy start to 2015, with the nursery almost always filled to capacity. For this reason the impending arrival of the new transport trolley, fitted with 2 incubators is very exciting. This will enable us to transport babies back to hospitals closer to their families once the intensive aspect of their care is complete.
On behalf of my entire team I would like to say thank you so much to our donors and supporters for your generous donations, which have enabled us to purchase this vital equipment. As many of you know the experience of having a baby in intensive care is very difficult for the whole family, so being able to be closer to other children and relatives as well as to friends is so important for the wellbeing of the parents. This is especially true for families living outside Sydney. So having this ability to back-transport babies helps us not only to free up beds for the next unwell baby, but makes day to day caring for their growing up baby easier for families as well.
We are all looking forward to the opening in the next few months of the iSAIL (Integrated Service After Infant Loss) Clinic.
The clinic is specifically for parents who have either had a baby die in the newborn period, or have experienced the stillbirth of a baby. Dr Adrienne Gordon, who has been working in the area of perinatal loss for some years, will run the clinic, but input will be multidisciplinary from a range of professionals including obstetricians, social workers and psychologists.
The iSAIL clinic will be located in Gloucester House, away from the main Mothers and Babies section of RPA hospital. Dr Gordon and her team have received funding for this clinic from Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club, who are generously funding the clinic for the first two years. This is an outstanding achievement from the club and we all thank them so much for enabling us to provide this much needed service.
Nursing Department NewsSimon Burke & Lyndy Dixon, Nursing Unit Managers
Over the past year we’ve continued on our busy path. At one point we had more babies on support than I can remember ever having in one day over the last ten years! As usual our nursing and ancillary staff soldier on and do our best to make every baby and family feel that they our number one priority. Fortunately we have a dedicated team of staff, several of whom manage to complete some post -graduate certificates.
Cassie Molloy, Alaina Hesp, Lauren Coates – have received their Graduate Certificate in Neonatal Nursing. Cassie Molloy, Amanda Zhang, Erica Hadaway, Anna Williams, Kristen Bennie, Hae Jin Bae, Neethu Varghese, Sree Nair, Megan Ryan and Mellissa Tongol have completed the Intro to NICU Nursing course. Bonnie Sullivan and Penny Janes have completed Masters of Nursing- Nurse Practitioner.
In addition Svea Bajic, Therese McCarthy, Kylie Davis and Colette Conn completed training Essentials of Care. This is a value based program where families and staff are able to
express what they feel is important and help us to improve out service over time.
Trish Mumford and Rachel Jones have worked hard to provide Donor Breast Milk to high-risk infants. The milk is pasteurised and allocated on a needs basis. Trish and Rachel have been working with Heather Taylor, Rachel Booysen, Esther Livingston and Kara Mobb to help to keep this service running. Despite being very time consuming for the staff, Donor Breast Milk provides a most valuable resource to our vulnerable patients.
Simon Burke
Dr Ingrid Rieger
Lyndy Dixon
NICU UpdateWe are happy to announce that Dr Ingrid Rieger, our Developmental Pediatrician, is our new Head of Department replacing Dr Nick Evans in that role. Dr Evans continues to be an integral part of the neonatology team.
We also welcome Dr Kavita Bhola back to RPA Newborn Care.
The birth of a baby is one of life’s most joyous occasions; a unique and very special time not only for the baby’s parents but also for the entire family. However, sometimes despite the best antenatal care, for a variety of reasons things don’t turn out as expected.
Like many parents Renee and David from Dubbo, were looking forward to the birth of their first baby. They made all the necessary arrangements, bought everything for the new baby and like all expectant parents were excited about the birth of their first child.
Thirteen weeks before her baby was due, Renee was flown to Sydney and urgently admitted to RPA Hospital. The reason for premature labour was preterm prolonged rupture of membranes causing Renee to spontaneously go into labour. Baby Lucy was born a couple of days after Christmas 2014 at 27 weeks gestation, weighing 1072g.
Lucy was on breathing support for 60 days. She required phototherapy for jaundice and because she was so premature needed a long line so she could be given adequate parental nutrition. Lucy was enrolled in two trials in an effort to help reduce infection and improve nutrition in preterm infants. These trials involved the use of probiotics and a natural substance found in breast mild, lactoferrin. She also received antibiotics for risk of infection.
The weeks and months that followed were very difficult for Renee and David. This was made worse by being far from home, separated from family and friends at a time when family support is so important. David’s work commitments back home in Dubbo, made it such that Renee was often on her own in Sydney. Renee spent her days by Lucy’s bedside. Each day brought new developments with Lucy slowly but surely growing and getting stronger.
These circumstances make it very difficult for parents and families to be part of their new baby’s life, witnessing daily progress and sharing each step from the Intensive Care Unit to High Dependency Unit and then Special Care Nursery before finally going home. This journey took baby Lucy three months to complete before flying to Dubbo Base Hospital where she will be before going home.
Nowadays technology allows us to keep in touch 24/7, we can communicate and see each other easily across the globe. The ability for parents to see their baby remotely anytime of day or night would significantly alleviate the anguish felt so acutely by parents and families when they are separated from their newborn baby.
RPA Newborn Care’s newest project is to bring this technology to our neonatal intensive care unit making it possible for parents to see their baby, or babies, anytime of the day or night. We would like to achieve this by installing special cameras on every bed in ICU, HDU and Special Care Nursery allowing parents to remotely see their baby. This extraordinary technology will have a significant impact on families who live in country NSW, interstate or overseas. It will reduce the sense of loneliness for parents like Renee who, often for months, was separated from her partner and family. They in turn could not see Lucy on a daily basis and witness her progress.
We are currently investigating all aspects of this project with the aim of implementing it in the near future. This innovative technology comes at a significant capital expense. Your support will greatly assist us in developing this project and help us bring parents and families closer to their sick or premature baby during their stay at RPA Newborn Care.
Dahlia Brigham
Lucy in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with mum Renee and dad David Lucy in ICU
Lucy in High Dependency Unit (HDU)
We wish to sincerely thank each and every one for the donations, gifts and support we receive. Through your generosity, loyalty and kindness, we are able to help our very vulnerable babies and purchase much needed life saving equipment for our newborn intensive care unit.
Our Monthly Donors
A very special THANK YOU goes to our regular monthly donors for their foresight and generosity. Your ongoing support allows us to be equipped with the latest technology helping us provide the best possible care for critically ill babies.
Regular monthly donations greatly assist us in planning the purchase of equipment and meeting the increasing needs of our newborn intensive care department.
To organise a monthly donation, please contact Dahlia Brigham on 9515 8456 or email [email protected]
Little Wonder
Our parents’ support and fundraising committee provide invaluable support to RPA Newborn Care through their wonderful fundraising activities throughout the year. Thank you to all parents, families and friends for supporting Little Wonder. Please consider joining Little Wonder and being part of a great team
Rotary Club of Marrickville
We were delighted to welcome members of Rotary Club of Marrickville to RPA Newborn Care recently. We are most grateful to the club for generously funding our department with new neonatal stethoscopes for each bed in ICU, HDU and Special Care Nursery as well as the clinics; a total of 24 Littman stethoscopes.
Saoirse Mc Cormick Golf Day
The 2014 Saoirse Golf Day was a huge success raising $70,000 for neonatology research. The research, conducted by Dr Mark Greenhalgh, will have a great impact on the treatment and care of premature babies in intensive care.
All participants thoroughly enjoyed the day both on the green and at the gala dinner. We are immensely grateful to Saoirse’s parents Conor and Moira for organsing this wonderful event together with the support of Little Wonder and several key sponsors and supporters.
The next Saoirse Golf Day will be held in 2016.
Wayne Cook, President of Rotary Club of Marrickville with Deb Willcox, tGeneral Manager RPA Hospital
Members of Rotary Club of Marrickville with Melanee Mak, Deb Willcox, General Manager RPA Hospital, Ingrid Rieger, Head of Department RPA Newborn Care and Dahlia
Thank You to Our Partners and Supporters
Saoirse Mc Cormick Golf Day image, from left to right: Moira Keane (Saoirse’s mum), Ingrid Rieger, Head of Department RPA Newborn Care, Deb Willcox, General Manager RPA Hospital, Conor Mc Cormick (Saoirse’s dad), Saoirse and Mark Greenhalgh, neonatologist RPA Newborn Care.
Emiliana and Novas with mum and dad on their first birthday
We also wish to thank:
In alphabetical order
• Carlos & Maria Abreu who together with their friends and family made donations to RPA Newborn Care from their annual family picnic.
• Australian Stockbrokers Foundation for their loyal and generous support of RPA Newborn Care.
• Michelle Christodoulou for donations to RPA Newborn Care in lieu of gifts for Zoe’s first birthday.
• Ashley Clark-Luccitti for donations to RPA Newborn Care in lieu of gifts for Harrison’s first birthday.
• Fokas Family for providing industrial freezers to store milk for our babies.
• Lynne Gordon, for the wonderful supply of nursery linen and premature baby outfits.
• Haben Property Fund for their support of RPA Newborn Care.
• Humpty Dumpty for generously funding two cosytherm infant warming mattresses.
• Megan Jones for donations to RPA Newborn Care in lieu of gifts for Conor’s first birthday.
• Simone Kippax & Debra Wood for “Sully’s Run” on Sunday 22 March in honour of Sullivan Darcy Kippax.
• Jovana Kuljaca for donations to RPA Newborn Care in lieu of gifts for Novas and Emiliana’s first birthday.
• Amber Maree for donations to RPA Newborn Care in honour of Charlize 1000 Breaths of Life.
• Mariana Melfi for donations to RPA Newborn Care in honour of Nonna Maria Manconi.
• Leva Mostaghim for donations to RPA Newborn Care in lieu of gifts for Arta’s first birthday.
• Elizabeth Rosser for donations to RPA Newborn Care in lieu of gifts for Angus’ first birthday.
• Michelle Slack-Smith for donations to RPA Newborn Care in honour of Harriet Slack-Smith.
• St Mark’s Quilters, Darling Point for the exquisite hand made quilts our babies are so fortunate to have. We recently received over 50 quilts much to the delight of the NICU team.
• Megan Walton for donations to RPA Newborn Care in lieu of gifts for Matilda’s first birthday.
Little Wonder Parents Fundraising Committee RPA Newborn Care
The Little Wonder calendar is continuing to keep us very busy for 2015!
Little Wonder is thrilled to be able to provide NICU gifts for Easter and Mothers’ Day in the coming months. These gifts would not be possible without the generous donations of so many local supporters and businesses – Thank You! Also a massive thank you to the families who have delivered cot linen, knits, baby clothes, peanut pillows and toys. All of these donations are greatly appreciated and make a difference to families in the unit.
We will be holding our Annual High Tea later in 2015 and we are also pleased to announce that we will be supporting the 2015 RPA Newborn Care’s Annual Graduate Parade and the next Saoirse McCormick Golf Day in 2016. Please stay tuned for more details on these events!
Little Wonder was founded by Mum’s, supported by their families and friends to become what it is today. In order for us to continue to support RPA Newborn Care we now need enthusiastic and passionate volunteers to assist us in fundraising and parent support activities. This is an exciting opportunity
to meet other NICU parents, learn and develop new skills and give back to the unit that saved our babies and allowed them to prosper. If you have a couple of hours a week free, access to a telephone and internet, we would love to hear from you! We currently have positions open in operational areas of sponsorship and prize acquisition, marketing, IT, PR, and logistics.
If you are able to assist us in supporting RPA Newborn Care please drop us a line at [email protected]
As a committee that is constantly evolving we want to thank past members for all their hard work and support and look forward to welcoming new members to the team.
Memorial FundsThis year “Sully’s Run” was held on Sully’s actual birthday, Sunday 22nd March in honour of Sullivan Darcy Kippax. All funds raised through this event are directed to the Sullivan Darcy Kippax Memorial Fund at RPA Newborn Care. A huge thank you to Deb and Simone for their outstanding fundraising efforts to support our current fundraising campaign.
RPA Newborn Care provides parents and families the opportunity to establish a Memorial Fund in their baby’s name as an ongoing, living testimonial in honour of their baby. The Fund can be designated to fund specific pieces of equipment, or can be directed to NICU’s annual campaign. All donations to Memorial Funds are fully tax-deductible.
We are privileged at RPA Newborn Care to have the following Memorial Funds established to honour the memory of babies who have died at birth or shortly afterwards.
• The Kai Emerson Memorial Fund• The Leo James Crisafulli Memorial Fund• The Sullivan Darcy Kippax Memorial Fund• The Harriet Slack-Smith Memorial Fund• The Xavier Telfer Memorial Fund
For information on Memorial Funds please contact Dahlia on: 9515 8456 or [email protected]
Entertainment Books 2015/16Please consider ordering your new Entertainment Book or Entertainment Digital Membership from us and 20% of your Membership will contribute to our fundraising. Orders placed before 27th April 2015, will also receive over $150 worth of Early Bird Offers which can be used straight away.
For only $70, Entertainment Memberships are packed with hundreds of up to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers for the best local restaurants, cafés, attractions, hotel accommodation, travel, and much more. Available as
a traditional Entertainment Book -or- Digital Membership on your smartphone, your Membership gives you over $20,000 worth of valuable offers valid through to 1 June 2016.
Orders can be made online: https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/2107e51 or by contacting Maria at RPA Newborn Care on 9515 8760
Contact UsAddress:
RPA Newborn CareRPA Women & BabiesRoyal Prince Alfred HospitalMissenden RdCamperdownNSW 2050Australia
I/We wish to make a contribution of:
$.......................................
By: c Credit Card c Cheque c Postal Order
• Please make cheques payable to “Friends of RPA Newborn Care”
• Or please circle as applicable.
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• Or you can call our Donation Hotline on 1300 114 424
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Receipts will be forwarded to the name and address you provide.
Receipts for direct monthly donations will be forwarded at the end of the financial year. Thank you for your continued support.
For further information please contact Dahlia on 9515 8456 or email [email protected]
I would like to be a regular supporter of RPA Newborn Care by making a monthly giftA regular monthly donation will provide reliable funding for life saving equipmentPlease deduct the following amount each month until further notice:c $10 c $20 c $50 c My chosen amount $...........(minimum$5)Preferred monthly debit date: c 8th c 30th Please charge my credit card:c Mastercard c Visa c Amex
