The front line

There are few more challenging medical environments than a children’s ward at a hospital. Here, the most fragile and vulnerable are treated – often their tiny lives in the balance as health professionals use every tool at their disposal to achieve the best possible result.

Even in a lucky country like Australia, hospitals face all manner of challenges and as hospitals go, Canterbury Hospital in Sydney’s south west, faces more challenges than most. It serves one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse communities in the Greater Sydney area –  with patients from 200 different countries utilising the hospital’s facilities last year alone, with just one in three able to speak English.

The area is also known for a higher birth rate and significantly higher fertility rate compared to the rest of New South Wales, placing addition pressure on their paediatrics ward, staff and equipment. Add to this the fact that the Canterbury Bankstown region is the second poorest local government area in greater Sydney and the pressures on health services are further pressed.

Nevertheless, despite all these challenges, Canterbury Hospital has built a reputation for the care it provides – care that has been given a little assistance with the donation by Audi Foundation partner, Humpty Dumpty of much needed new medical equipment.

This donation, a Radical-7 Pulse Oximeter with Wall Mount valued at $6500, is a three in one device which can be used as a bedside, handheld, or transport monitor. Essentially this machine translates what’s happening with a baby’s oxygen levels, to those doctors and nurses charged with the task of caring for the child. It shines a light through a baby’s finger or toe, measures the amount of oxygen in their capillaries and sounds an alarm at the slightest change in oxygen levels, allowing life-saving action to be taken to prevent damage to organs such as the brain, lungs, and eyes. 

“We are very grateful for this generous donation to our paediatrics ward from the Audi Foundation and Humpty Dumpty Foundation," said Canterbury Hospital General Manager Michael Morris. "Devices like this allow us to continue providing the highest quality care to our young patients.”

Marking its fifth year of operation in 2022, the Audi Foundation has partnered with Humpty Dumpty Foundation since 2017, supporting its unique approach to supplying life-saving medical equipment to Paediatric Wards, Neonatal Units, Maternity and Emergency Departments in Australian hospitals and health services.   

“One can’t help being moved by the amazing work they do,” said Paul Sansom, Chairman of the Audi Foundation. “Sometimes when you give to a charity, it’s hard to see exactly how your contribution is helping. With the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, dealers can go into a hospital and physically see the equipment they donated and see the tangible difference it is making. Being able to assist in this way is extremely powerful.”

To date, Humpty has raised $90million and in 2021 donated a record-breaking 700 pieces of medical equipment. The charity relies heavily on corporate and community donors as well as the ongoing support of the partnership with Audi Foundation.

“It is only with the support of generous donors like Audi Foundation 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.

This physically small piece of equipment will make a big difference at a medical facility like Canterbury Hospital where its lifesaving performance transcends all language barriers.