General News
27 April, 2025
Latest neonatal cot at Yandilla ward
Grampians Health's Horsham campus has become one of the first maternity units in Australia to receive the latest neonatal transfer cot, thanks to a generous donation from the Wimmera Base Hospital Ladies Auxiliary.
The new cot, now in service at the Yandilla ward, marks a significant milestone in the Auxiliary's 100-year history of support to the hospital.
A neonatal transfer cot is a specialised device designed to safely transport critically ill or premature infants between or within hospitals while maintaining vital signs and temperature.
Yandilla nurse unit manager Michelle Coutts welcomed the new addition, calling it a significant improvement over the previous model.
"The new one is much more compact and has a really good display with digital controls, making it much easier to use," she said.
"We would use a transfer cot on average about 10 times a year and that might not sound like much but it's extremely important when it is needed."
Ms Coutts explained that the cot is mainly used for non-urgent transfers from Horsham to Ballarat or Melbourne, but the Emergency Department also uses it occasionally.
She expressed deep gratitude to the Ladies Auxiliary for the donation and acknowledged their ongoing support.
"That's an incredible achievement and we are very lucky to have their continued support. I know they have supplied this department with a great deal of vital equipment over the time."
Grampians Health chief people officer Claire Woods praised the Auxiliary for its long-standing commitment.
"Grampians Health made a commitment that donations raised in a particular community would be spent on improving healthcare at the corresponding campus," Ms Woods said.
"This has been the case from day one and will continue that way.
"The way healthcare is being delivered is changing with new technologies and approaches to care in place.
"The work of our region's various fundraising partners is vitally important to improve access to more services closer to home."