An Australian first for the Mater Mothers'
A new state-of-the-art monitoring system, the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, was unveiled at the new Mater Mothers' Hospital.
The Guardian System, made possible by a $1 million gift of unclaimed prize money from Golden Casket, will be crucial to the busiest maternity hospital in Australia where up to 10,000 babies are born each year.
Mater Director of Perinatal and Women's Health Services Don Cave said, “The Cardiotocograph (CTG) monitoring element of the system is an integral part of obstetric management, allowing early detection of fetal heart rate problems during labour and birth. If a fetal heart rate alters, staff are automatically alerted by an in-built alarm. “With one in six Queenslanders born at the Mothers’ Hospital, the Mater has a long history in maternity services and we will ensure our patients continue to receive an exceptional level of care from our committed team of professionals,” he said.
The new digital system, which has been funded by Golden Casket, can record key clinical observations and allow staff to review them at a touch of a button. The system can be viewed at the bedside so the mother can be involved in her care. It will also ensure that unborn babies can be monitored both at the bedside and remotely by staff across the hospital in the Mater’s 178 rooms and 16 birthing suites.