Nathalia baker Ian Brereton donated $200,000 that has been used to buy essential life-saving equipment, including a central monitoring system, a Giraffe incubator and two portable bed-side monitors for the special care nursery.
This equipment reduces the need for transfers, and procedures can be performed in a stable environment without delay.
Neonatal nurse practitioner Dalbir Singh said the equipment was very advanced and allowed SCN staff to quickly respond when a newborn was struggling.
“Prematurity, infection, breathing difficulties and low sugar levels are some of the reasons babies end up with us,” Mr Singh said.
Three hundred at-risk babies are cared for by the SCN each year, from the 1000 babies, on average, born in the region.
Mr Brereton was going to bequeath the money to the SCN in his will, but decided not to wait.
“I was going to do it when I die, but then I thought, bugger it, the money’s there, I might as well do it now,” Mr Brereton said.
“I didn’t want my name in the paper or anything, I just wanted to give it to them.”
The GV Health Foundation recently held a morning tea to thank Mr Brereton for his generosity, with SCN staff, GV Health executives and GV Health Foundation board members attending.
“There are many people who support the work of GV Health; however, Ian has been exceptionally generous,” GV Health Foundation director Amy De Paola said.
“His support will make an immediate and lasting difference for our tiniest patients and their families.
“We are incredibly grateful for his kindness and for choosing to invest in the special care nursery.”
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