Thanks to a $200,000 donation from Nathalia baker, Mr Ian Brereton, GV Health’s Special Care Nursery have purchased essential life-saving equipment including a central monitoring system, a Giraffe incubator, and two portable bed-side monitors so babies can be closely watched while remaining with their mother.

This equipment reduces the need for transfers, and procedures can be performed in a stable environment without delay.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Mr. Dalbir Singh said the equipment is very advanced and allows Special Care Nursery staff to quickly respond when a newborn is struggling.

“Prematurity, infection, breathing difficulties and low sugar levels are some of the reasons babies end up with us,” Mr. Singh said.

300 at-risk babies are cared for by the Special Care Nursery each year, from the one thousand babies, on average, born in the region.

Mr Brereton was going to bequeath the money to the Special Care Nursery in his Will but decided not to wait.

“I was going to do it when I die but then I thought, bugger it, the money’s there I might as well do it now,” he said.

“I didn’t want my name in the paper or anything, I just wanted to give it to them,” Mr Brereton said.

The GV Health Foundation recently held a morning tea to thank Mr Brereton for his generosity with SCN staff, GV Health executives and GV Health Foundation board members in attendance.

Director of the GV Health Foundation, Amy De Paola said “There are many people who support the work of GV Health; however, Ian has been exceptionally generous. His support will make an immediate and lasting difference for our tiniest patients and their families. We are incredibly grateful for his kindness and for choosing to invest in the Special Care Nursery.”