This year for World Prematurity Day, the Special Care Baby Unit at George Eliot Hospital, are fundraising for a piece of equipment to assist with cannulating babies. This bodes-well within the theme of World Prematurity Day 2024, which is “Over 13 million babies born too soon every year. Access to quality care everywhere!”

The AccuVein AV500 is a near-infrared vein visualisation device using a low power, Class 1 laser to display a real time image of veins on to the surface of the skin through a bright green image projection. This will allow staff to accurately view the centre-line of the vein.

Being able to use the vein-finder will enhance the outcome of carrying out the invasive treatment of inserting cannulas and help to make it less traumatic, not only for the babies, but for the families. It can decrease the time of separation of birthing parent and baby, which is paramount in the bonding after birth. It can increase the success rate of inserting a cannula on the first attempt and therefore reduce the stress and pain for babies.

Please, if you can donate in any way to help us raise the funds, we as a unit would be very grateful and we know our families will be too.