Oxygen monitor “invaluable” for care of sick youngsters

Sunday 19 May 2019

Sick youngsters will be able to avoid visiting hospitals for post-operative treatment and routine nursing care thanks to a special new piece of equipment acquired by Family Nursing and Home Care.

The new oxygen monitor will allow the charity’s nursing staff to treat unwell children and young people needing medical assistance within the comfort of their own home.

The oxygen machine will be used by the charity's Community Children’s Nursing Team (CCNT), who will use the machine to support patients from babies to 18-year-olds who are recovering from surgery, need help to eat or have been diagnosed with serious conditions. 

Michelle Cumming, Operational Lead for Child and Family Services, explained the significance of the new piece of equipment: “The CCNT provides nursing care in the home for children and young people aged 0 to 18 years. We care for children who have a variety of nursing needs including post-operative care, assistance with feeding and for children who have life limiting or life threatening conditions. Many of these children require monitoring of their heart rate and oxygen levels.” 

Pictured - from left to right: Mia Mistry and Jenny Buist from the charity with Amy Orr and her one-year-old son Hamish using the oxygen monitor and Patrick McConnell from Ravenscroft.

Michelle said that the monitor will therefore "be invaluable in the care we provide island youngsters.”

More widely, Family Nursing and Home Care provide a range of community nursing and home care to islanders of any age and is funded by grants including government commissions as well as money from fundraisers, memberships, donations and legacies.

Michelle added that “As a progressive organisation, fundraising is essential to ensure vital specialist skills and equipment are available to support islanders as the population grows and develops.” 

The oxygen monitor has been donated to the charity by investment services group Ravenscroft.