Children who become patients to the paediatric ward at Cairns Hospital will find cannulation a much easier process, thanks to the generosity of the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
With a significant donation of $38,454, the Foundation has bought a cutting-edge Sonosite ST ultrasound system, now offering life-changing relief to children who require intravenous (IV) treatments.
Cairns Hospital Director of Paediatrics Dr Neil Archer said in many young patients, who are acutely unwell or have a chronic condition and need cannulation for IV fluid or medications, which might include chemotherapy for the treatment of cancers or some life-changing modern therapies for conditions like arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease.
“Cannulations can be very challenging not only for the child but also for their families. When a child is very unwell their body redirects blood flow away from superficial veins making a smaller target. Unfortunately, finding veins often becomes more challenging over time for young people with chronic conditions, as veins will tend to become harder to access as they are repeatedly used,” Dr Archer said.
The new ultrasound system, now fully operational in the paediatric ward and for paediatric day procedures at Cairns Hospital, has significantly enhanced the experience for these vulnerable children. Paediatric doctors, now trained in ultrasound-guided cannulation, can accurately locate veins in the children for whom cannulation is difficult, improving the chances of a successful first attempt. This not only reduces the number of needle insertions but also minimises the trauma associated with painful procedures.
Foundation CEO Gina Hogan said it was important that as much as possible, paediatric patients in the Far North have the same standard of care as they receive in Brisbane.
“With this new system in place, children in Far North Queensland can continue to receive high-quality care and our paediatric patients will have a much better experience with their cannulation,” Mrs Hogan said.
“This new equipment represents a significant step forward in providing compassionate, child-centred care to the region’s youngest patients which we believe we will support their future experiences with health care. It underscores the critical role that donations and community support play in improving the health care experience for families in Far North Queensland.
“Thanks to the Hospital Foundation’s generous contribution, we will further improve the experience for more children making their hospital experience just that little bit brighter,” Dr Archer said.
Caption: Dr Brandon Lo uses the new ultrasound on patient Harry Prior.
