The Special Care Nursery at Mount Isa Hospital recently received a Bilisoft LED Phototherapy system valued at $9,990 that will see newborn babies suffering from jaundice treated more effectively and return home sooner.

The Humpty Dumpty Foundation and Coates Foundation donated the much-needed piece of medical equipment.

Mount Isa Branch Manager at Coates Tane Iwikau said it was great to see the equipment making a difference in the local community.

“It’s wonderful to see firsthand the equipment in the nursery already being used by babies needing to be treated for jaundice,” he said.

“Coates are proud to support the Mount Isa community and hope this donation continues to help keep our local families together, close to home while their babies receive treatment.”

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Jo La Spina said the donation was very welcomed.

“Having this piece of equipment means we can treat babies with jaundice more effectively and hopefully get them home as soon as possible,” she said.

“It is only with the support of generous donors like Coates that the Humpty Dumpty Foundation can make a real difference.  Now more than ever it’s important to us that we continue to support hospitals and health services right across the country,” said Humpty Dumpty Foundation Founder and Chairman, Paul Francis OAM.

Jaundice, detected as a yellowing of the skin and eyes, occurs in 50% of full-term babies and 80% of pre-term babies in the first week of life. Without prompt treatment, jaundice can cause long-term issues.

The Bilisoft LED Phototherapy System uses phototherapy to effectively treat the jaundice while also allowing parents to hold or feed their child without disturbing the therapeutic treatment in progress.