March 05, 2024
Support the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital
Give premature and critically ill newborns a fighting chance with your support for expert care, vital resources, and groundbreaking research.
Our goal
$1,500,000
Raised
$1,086,880
To go
$413,120
Every Baby Deserves a Fighting Chance
When you support the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Royal North Shore Hospital, you will be helping to give our tiniest and most vulnerable patients a fighting chance at life.
Your generosity helps fund lifesaving equipment and groundbreaking research that improves the health and development of vulnerable premature and critically ill newborn babies.
The NICU at Royal North Shore Hospital is a vital lifeline for the sickest babies from across Northern Sydney and beyond. Here, newborns receive round-the-clock expert care from a compassionate team of neonatology specialists – who not only care for the babies but also walk alongside parents, offering strength and guidance through every step of their journey.
In the NICU, our butterfly theme represents the delicate journey of our tiniest patients, growing stronger each day and, spreading their wings. It also gently honours the memory of those precious babies who are no longer with us, whose brief but beautiful lives will never be forgotten.
A Closer Look at Prematurity
1 in 10 Babies Born Prematurely
Approximately 10% of babies are born before 37 weeks, making preterm birth the leading cause of death in children under 5 worldwide.
20 to 90+ Days in NICU
Premature newborns often require 20 to over 90 days in intensive care, receiving continuous medical support to survive and thrive.
Families Face a Heavy Toll
Parents of preterm infants are at higher risk of anxiety, depression, and long-term stress due to emotional and financial pressures.
YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS
Support NICU
Why support our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit?
Your donation will make a world of difference by supporting families during their NICU journey and providing essential equipment and resources. It will help us purchase urgently needed medical devices from our wish list to ensure vulnerable newborns receive the specialised care they need to thrive.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit areas of need
Omnibeds Cost: $60,000
These advanced, multifunctional units combine the features of an incubator and radiant warmer. Designed for premature and critically ill newborns, they provide a controlled micro-environment that regulates both temperature and oxygen levels to support optimal care and recovery.
Ventilator Cost: $72,500
Neonatal ventilators are lifesaving machines specially designed to help newborns breathe – especially those born too early or with serious lung conditions. These advanced devices gently deliver the right mix of air and oxygen to tiny, fragile lungs and play a crucial role in giving critically ill babies the best possible start in life.
Research Cost: $200,000
One area of research is exploring whether premature babies are born with fewer small blood vessels in their kidneys compared to full-term babies – something that may increase their risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease later in life. This awareness can lead to early detection and management of cardiovascular issues, ensuring better long-term heart health.
Meet some of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit team
Dr Eveline Staub
Head of Department of Neonatology
Dr Eveline Staub
Head of Department of Neonatology
About Dr Eveline
Dr Eveline Staub is a dedicated neonatal intensive care clinician with a deep commitment to improving the lives of preterm babies and their families. With over 20 years of international experience, she brings both expertise and compassion to her work with some of the tiniest and most vulnerable patients. As a passionate researcher, Dr Staub leads ambitious studies focused on understanding the long-term impacts of premature births. She is also a strong advocate for the next generation of medical professionals – mentoring young female colleagues and sharing her knowledge through teaching the art and science of neonatology.
Emily Macnaught
Nurse Consultant
Emily Macnaught
Nurse Consultant
About Emily
Emily is a highly specialised neonatal nursing expert who oversees inpatient care in the NICU, provides advice on the technical aspects of nursing care and implements clinical policies and guidelines. Her area of interest is the care of extremely premature babies born at the border of viability (22 to 24 weeks gestation), where RNSH NICU is pioneering a standardised care bundle to optimise outcomes. Emily is conducting research on parents’ experiences during the long NICU admission after extreme preterm birth, aiming to understand the challenges faced by parents. This will help NICU staff implement appropriate interventions to better support and empower families in what is often one of the most difficult periods of their lives.
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