Waikato Hospital NICU ward receive new giraffe warmer

Presenting the new giraffe warmer for Waikato Hospital's NICU are, from left: Michelle Sutherland, director women's and child health Waikato District Health Board, Nicola Locke, chairperson Dairy Goat Co-operative Trust, Chantelle Hill, charge nurse manager NICU, Christine Woolerton, service manager women's and child health Waikato Hospital, Louise Tolenaars, secretary Dairy Goat Co-operative Trust.

Waikato Hospital's NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) will have a new giraffe warmer unit for their pre-term babies, thanks to a donation from the Dairy Goat Co-operative Trust.

Women's and child health service manager Christine Woolerton said 100 of the sickest children in NICU will benefit from this new piece of equipment over the next 12 months.
"This generous donation of $23,100 will make a big difference for us," she says.

"Transporting a pre-term NICU baby who is connected to equipment is quite a challenge and this unit will make it so much easier for us."

The new giraffe warmer is highly portable and easier to move around than previous models, enabling NICU to transport babies to the operating theatre or collect babies from the emergency department, which is quite a distance from NICU.

Giraffe warmers are used for pre-term or late pre-term babies.

The warmers provide a high tech healing environment that is warm and comfortable, with easy access and visibility for parents and staff.

Dairy Goat Co-operative Trust chairperson Nicola Locke was delighted to be handing over the funds.

The Trust, which has been operating since November 2017, serves a similar geographic area to NICU.

They chose to donate to NICU after one of the trust members read a NICU flier seeking contributions.

"It has been our pleasure to donate this piece of valuable equipment to NICU," says Nicola.

"The Trust and the Dairy Goat Co-operative are committed to nourishing and caring for families and future generations.

"This donation fits well with our purpose and will deliver real benefits to the local and wider community."