Two neonatal incubators that once helped care for Melbourne’s smallest and most vulnerable babies have been given a remarkable second life – helping orphaned and injured Australian wildlife. Source: Mercy Health.
In August, Mercy Hospital for Women donated two decommissioned neonatal incubators to zoologist Robyn Coy, founder of Tarcombe Animal Shelter, whose 160-hectare wildlife sanctuary was devastated by the Longwood bushfires in January.
The fire tore through Dr Coy’s home and wildlife shelter, destroying her veterinary equipment and leaving her without the specialist equipment she relied on to care for sick and injured wildlife.
Among the equipment lost was an incubator, which Dr Coy said “melted into a puddle” as the fire tore through her property.
“I didn’t think I’d ever be able to replace it,” she said.
“They’re such expensive pieces of equipment, so these incubators are going to make a huge difference. They give us the thermoregulation that’s so critical for injured and sick animals.”
The donation was facilitated by Medical Pantry, an organisation that rescues and redistributes surplus medical equipment from Australia’s healthcare system to organisations that can put it to use.
For Dr Coy, the incubators arrived at a critical time. In the weeks following the fire, more than 20 animals came into her care, including orphaned joeys, possums, birds and other native wildlife.
At Mercy Hospital for Women, neonatal incubators have played an important role in caring for premature and critically ill babies, creating a warm and controlled environment during their earliest days of life.
While the two incubators had reached the end of their clinical working life at Mercy Health, they remained in excellent condition – making them suitable for a new purpose beyond the hospital.
Leah Davison, equipment nurse in Mercy Hospital for Women’s Neonatal Unit, said it was special to see equipment that had supported vulnerable babies continue to make a difference in the community.
FULL STORY
From tiny patients to tiny joeys: Mercy Hospital for Women incubator given a second life (Mercy Health)
