Caption: Yolanda Fennell Clinical Nurse Manager and Jomol Joseph Staff Nurse

HSE Staff at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise (MRHP) are delighted to have been gifted a new “Sound Ear” monitor for their Special Care Baby Unit. The donation was made by the charity, Bikers Ride Out for Prems. Many of those involved in the group have had or were closely related to babies who needed specialist care, just after birth.

The new high-tech Sound Ear monitor (see pic) allows staff and parents to gauge their noise levels when they are in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). It was accepted on behalf of the hospital by Claire Julian, the Nursing Site Manager on duty when the Bikers arrived at MRHP.

Yolanda Fennel, the Clinical Nurse Manager who runs the Special Care Baby Unit at MRHP explains, “The Sound Ear monitor, which is actually in the shape of an ear, will be mounted onto a wall. It measures decibels and lights up and flashes orange to remind parents or staff to be quiet, indicating that the room is getting too noisy. Reducing noise levels helps premature babies in terms of their brain and overall development. This is a fantastic donation from the charity Bikers Ride out for Prems.”

 Ita Kinsella Director of Midwifery at MRHP said:

“This equipment is a significant resource which we can use to monitor the recommended noise threshold for babies in the Special Care Baby Unit, particularly during medical rounds and at peak visiting times. I would like to thank the charity for its ongoing continuous fundraising efforts and support for the SCBU.  It is very much appreciated and positively impacts the service provided to babies in the unit.”

Michael Knowles, General Manager at MRHP said “We are very grateful for the incredible support we receive from our community each year which means a lot to our staff and patients. The kindness and generosity demonstrated by parents and those closely connected to babies who have spent time in the Special Care Unit is much appreciated.”

The Special Care Baby Unit at MRHP cares for all infants delivered who are sick or who have more than routine care requirements. The unit is staffed by experienced paediatric and neonatal nurses and midwives and is supported by specialist paediatric teams including neonatology and a range of other Allied Health Professionals who are available 24 hours a day.