New Ultrasound Machine Means No More Borrowing

Tuesday, 7 August 2007, 3:51 pm
Press Release: Waikato DHB

New Ultrasound Machine Means No More Borrowing

Waikato Hospital's paediatric anaesthetic department is getting a new ultrasound machine.

The $30,000 MicroMAXX machine, which was fundraised for by the Kiwanis service groups of the Waikato area, is vital for the hospital as in the past the machine had always been borrowed from other sources.

The new equipment will be used to site lines in very small veins of babies and young children. Many of these sick babies are very premature and weigh only 1 or 2 lbs, and young children are often terrified of needles. Finding the veins first time saves a lot of stress and pain for the children and staff alike.

The anaesthetists can also use the ultrasound machine for nerve blocks for pain relief and the equipment will allow for quicker and safer procedures for young adults.

Without such equipment the operation at Waikato Hospital to separate the conjoined twins in 2004 would not have been possible. This machine is a great asset for Waikato Hospital, a major tertiary hospital that provides services to the largest area of any DHB in the country.

Waikato Hospital will be hosting an afternoon tea on Wednesday August 8 to celebrate this new machine, and to allow media to see the machine for themselves. The afternoon tea will be held at 3pm in the Bryant Education Centre by Carpark A followed by the opportunity to take pictures of the machine in action.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Waikato District Health Board

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