Source : Perth Now news
A “cutting-edge” technology enabling parents of critically-ill infants to see their child in real time through cameras has launched in NSW.
Liverpool Hospital became the first public hospital in the state to launch the AngelEye camera system earlier this year.
The system, which is part of the state government’s $930m redevelopment of the hospital prescient, allows parents and carers of preterm or critically ill children to access a 24-hour live feed video of their child, with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) staff also providing updates, including photos, via text message.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said parents had been “overwhelmingly positive” about the new technology, which reinforced the “incredible work our NICU clinicians are doing every day to support families during some of the most challenging experiences of their lives”.
“Being separated for long periods from your baby in the NICU can be a considerably distressing time for parents, this lifestreaming system is a simple but practical way to help ease that emotional strain,” he said.
“We know just how important these early days of a child’s life are for their development, that’s why we’re investing in state-of-the-art clinical services like this one at Liverpool.”
Liverpool Hospital NICU director Dr Nele Legge said the system provided “comfort and reassurance” to families.
“We encourage parents to visit their babies as much as possible but believe the AngelEye system will provide comfort and reassurance during those times when they are cannot be with their babies due to work or family commitments,” she said.
“The cameras provide secure, one-way messaging and live streams of the baby which helps to encourage bonding, reduces stress for the parents, supports family-centred care and helps to integrate parents into the care team.”
Alexandra McCormack, a mother in the NICU with infant Rocky, said the camera system “made such a difference to my family”.
“It has given us peace of mind when we cannot be with Rocky, because we can see him at any time via our devices,” she said.
The technology enables staff to send secure, one-way communications in more than 100 languages.
It comes two years after the launch of the expanded NICU at Liverpool Hospital, which includes the new Integrated Services Building, the centrepiece of the first stage of the Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct redevelopment.
The NICU has 10 single rooms, four negative pressure rooms to isolate immunocompromised babies, and more space for parental involvement and “kangaroo care” skin-to-skin contact.
Construction is underway for the second stage of the project, which will include six new parent rooms for the NICU.
