HOSPITALS Cold cuddle cot: Giving bereaved parents the choice Dealing with the death of a stillborn baby is an incredibly difficult time for parents and families and statistically this devastation affects six Australian families every day. Many bereaved parents wish to spend precious time with their baby which is a choice that is becoming more recognised. The Cold Cuddle Cot was designed to cool deceased babies and allow their parents and family to grieve together in close proximity, removing the unpleasant experience of having to transfer to and from the mortuary or a Cold Room. Thanks to the wonderful fundraising efforts from Sherri-Leigh and Ben Land who lost their daughter Emerikus in March 2013, and Tori Jackson who also lost her daughter Indrani- Jade in March 2013, a Cold Cuddle Cot was donated to the John Flynn Private Hospital Birth Centre in October 2015. This joint donation came about after Tori wanted to know what other options were available to grieving parents after losing her first child Indrani-Jade which was when she came across the Emerikus Land Foundation. Hollywood names new ward after Victoria Cross recipient, George Howell Hollywood Private Hospital continues to honour its special links with the veterans, war widows and widowers of Western Australia (WA). All wards at Hollywood have been renamed after servicemen who were awarded the Victoria Cross and George Cross Medals of Honour and who either resided at the time of enlistment, died or were buried in WA. 10 The Ramsay Way 2016 | 01 The Foundation, created in 2013 by Sherri-Leigh and Ben Land in honour of their daughter Emerikus, works with families to help donate a cuddle cot in memory of their baby and Emerikus. Through various raffles and other fundraising events, Sherri-Leigh, Ben, Tori and Tori’s own father Leon and their family and friends, actively supported the campaign and raised the $5,000 needed for a cold cot to be donated in loving memory of Indrani-Jade and Emerikus. Since the Emerikus Land Foundation was created in 2013 over a quarter of a million dollars or 57 cold cots have already been donated to hospitals throughout Australia. This is a phenomenal achievement, but the Foundation doesn’t plan on stopping just there, Sherri-Leigh and Ben’s ultimate goal is to raise enough money to place at least one Cold Cuddle Cot into every hospital in Australia and keep looking at other ways to help support parents and hospitals through this difficult time. In February 2015, Karen Gullick, Director of Clinical Services at Hollywood hosted a naming ceremony for the third ward of the Anne Leach Wing. The Howell ward was named in honour of George Howell who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the attack on Bullecourt. The recommendation for the award reads (in part...) 'For gallantry, fearlessness and initiative on 6th May 1917 in trench O.G.1 near Bullecourt, France, part of which this Battalion was holding... Seeing Howell's action other men had come forward to support him and the enemy were finally driven out of the trench which was again occupied and held. George Howell’s action in stemming the tide of the advance of the enemy and forcing them to drawback, enabled the organisation of the counter attack, which was immediately launched, and drove the Germans from the position.’ Reflecting on the story of George Howell, Karen said “Mr Howell’s military honours recognised him as a man of gallantry, a fearless person who acted with initiative, and that he demonstrated leadership – he inspired others and gave them confidence to act with courage.” “We believe that the attributes he displayed at this time are as important today as they were in 1917. Our staff look to their leaders to show initiative, and to be inspirational and fearless too. George Howell’s story will now be part of our story, and his gallantry will continue to be recognised through this.” “We are humbled by his story and honoured that we are able to use his name as part of our hospital.” Deep Brain Stimulation at Hollywood Hollywood Private Hospital is now offering Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), a life-changing procedure which treats neuromuscular diseases such as Parkinson’s by placing an electrode into the brain and then running a continuous electric current. Traditionally, DBS has been performed in two parts. However, in an Australian first, Hollywood specialists Dr Julian Rodrigues, neurologist and Associate Professor Stephen Lewis, neurosurgeon are able to perform the procedure at the one time with the use of an AIRO intraoperative CT scanner. Currently, there are long waiting lists for DBS in the public hospital system. Hollywood is the only private hospital in WA offering this service combined with the AIRO intraoperative CT scanner, reducing the procedure time and improving the accuracy of electrode placement. Karen Gullick with a painting of George Howell. Tori with her son Kloud and Tori’s father Leon who along with their family and friends, actively supported the campaign to have a cold cuddle cot donated to John Flynn Private Hospital.
The Ramsay Way - Autumn 2016
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