Grant For Starship Premature Baby Equipment

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Left to Right: Lindsay Pope of Public Trust, 5 week old Liam Barrett of Blenheim; who was born five weeks premature and with a heart condition for which he had surgery for nine days ago, in Starship’s new Babytherm warming unit, and Owen Whisker, of Public Trust.

News Release 21 August 2008

Williams Trust Grant Enables Starship To Purchase Equipment For Care Of Premature Babies

Starship Children’s Health has today taken delivery of three new Babytherm warming units, purchased with the help of a $17,000 grant from the Eric and Jeanette Williams Starship Hospital Children’s Trust to the Starship Foundation, the hospital’s fundraising body. The Williams Trust is administered and managed by Public Trust.

Bobbie Brown, Starship Foundation’s Fundraising Director said: “We are so grateful to the Williams Trust for their support. This grant helped us to purchase one of the new Babytherm units, which are used by critically ill babies in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. At a cost of $26,000 per unit, this much needed equipment is very expensive, and we were only able to purchase it as result of the kindness of trusts and organisations such as the Williams Trust.”

The Babytherm warming units are fully portable and comprise a crib and mattress with a thermal warming unit overhead, which automatically focuses radiant warmth onto the baby.
The warm gel mattress provides comfort and adds to the controlled thermal environment, increasing the comfort of the baby inside. The unit can also be turned into an enclosed incubator should a baby need to be fully isolated.

This year marks the first year funds have been distributed from the Williams Trust. Eric Williams was born in 1930 in Wanganui, where he met and married Jeanette McDonald in 1968, before they eventually moved to New Plymouth. Jeanette passed away in 2000 and Eric in 2006. They had no children. The Trust was established under the terms of Mr Williams’ Will.

Lindsay Pope, Public Trust’s National Manager Specialist and Charitable Services said “Public Trust is extremely proud of its role as Trustee for the Eric and Jeanette Williams Starship Hospital Children’s Trust, knowing how it helps our community. This Trust provides funding for Starship Foundation to purchase the equipment it needs, to enable them to offer the best possible health services to children, as well as support to their families.”

Starship Children’s Health was New Zealand's first purpose built hospital for children and young people and their health needs. Starship's prime focus is on delivering family-centred care in a child friendly environment. The Starship Foundation was set up to raise funds for essential equipment and services outside of government funding.

Public Trust administers over 400 charitable trusts with interests as diverse as science, medicine, disability and agriculture. Collectively, the trusts provide the means for many people to live better lives, enhance their skills or enjoy better community facilities.
Working with New Zealanders for 135 years, Public Trust is New Zealand’s largest and most enduring trustee organisation. As well as Wills, Public Trust’s services include enduring powers of attorney, estate administration, family trusts, pre-paid funeral trusts, education and inheritance trusts, charitable trusts, savings and investments, lending and insurance.

ENDS

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