by Matthew | May 8, 2014 | News
The Children’s Heart Federation (chfed.org.uk) have been campaigning for all babies to receive the Pulse Oximetry test at birth to detect Congenital Heart Disease. This quick, painless and cheap test measures oxygen levels in blood and can detect over 90% of critical heart defects in newborns.
The UK National Screening Committee has now recommended the use of Pulse Oximetry Screening on newborns and has announced today there will be a national pilot. Here are links to the announcement:
http://www.chfed.org.uk/babies-are-set-to-receive-heart-test-to-save-lives/
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-national-screening-committee-recommends-new-test-for-newborn-babies-with-heart-disease
The announcement is receiving some media interest and has appeared on the Telegraph online:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10813377/All-newborns-to-undergo-heart-tests.html
by Matthew | Mar 17, 2013 | News
The Cardiology Team at Alder Hey are very excited by the arrival of a few bugs in clinic. No, don’t worry, not those kind of bugs. These are buzzing plastic lady-bugs!! These friendly little creatures are designed to help take the pain out of needles. They work by using natural pain relief in the
form of vibration to confuse your nerves and distraction to take your focus away from the needle. Vibration and distraction together help dull or eliminate sharp pain like needles.
Other departments in Alder Hey had tried them out and given how well they were received by patients, The Children’s Heart Association offered to fund three for the cardiology team. So if you are in clinic or on the ward and need a blood test, cannula, finger prick or injection and would like to give Buzzy a try, be sure to ask a member of staff. Be sure to let us know what you think of it.
Jessica Sellars (aged 14) was kind enough to let us take a photograph of her trying Buzzy. She had to have two injections, the first one was a while ago before we got our Ladybugs. When she had her second injection she tried “Buzzy” and said “it felt really cold on her arm but the second injection didn’t hurt as much as the first one”.
If you would like to watch some videos of Buzzy being demonstrated, learn more about it or would like to buy your own, visit the website at www.buzzy4shots.com.
by Matthew | Sep 19, 2012 | Other resources
Contains links to information on the different systems within the human body, including the heart. Specifically check out the links to NeoK12: Circulatory System, About Your Heart: Heart Animations And Interactives and Montana State University: How Your Heart Works.
www.patientassistance.com
by Matthew | May 12, 2012 | UK resources
Aims to provide the UK with a huge nutrition support network, enabling those in need to find a nutritionist close to them and appropriate for their needs. This is a free, confidential service that will provide those seeking support with all the information they need.
www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk
by Matthew | May 12, 2012 | Other resources
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Heart Center staff members compiled this online Heart Center Encyclopedia to provide easily accessible information on cardiac diseases, defects, disorders, and problems that may affect a child’s heart. The Heart Center Encyclopedia also provides information about options available to diagnose and treat children’s heart conditions and anomalies.
www.cincinnatichildrens.org
