Sheffield Children's Hospital charity funding vital treatment equipment

The video laryngoscope, costing £22,000, will enable the team on the intensive care unit to quickly establish airways in patients with difficult respiratory conditions.

The process is the same as when treating adults, but children require a much smaller tube which makes placement into the airway more difficult.

The device lets staff review the process on a monitor, ensuring accuracy and safety.

Dr Rum Thomas, consultant in paediatric intensive care medicine, said: “This new video laryngoscope will help doctors place breathing tubes in children safely.

“The fitted camera will allow assisting staff to see the airway - this will help them to recognise difficult airways and help more effectively. It is also a valuable tool to help with training.

“In terms of the coronavirus, it also means equipment is at hand to help manage children with difficult airways more effectively and this will reduce the risk of exposing staff to potential infection.

“We anticipate that the equipment will be in ever-increasing use in the future, as the number of children and young people with complex airway problems attending our hospital continues to rise.”

The purchase was largely made possible by a substantial, undisclosed donation by professional golfer and The Children’s Hospital Charity’s patron Matt Fitzpatrick.

Matt said: “Sheffield Children’s Hospital has always been close to my heart, and as a charity patron, I will be supporting everyone in any way I can during this challenging time.

“My thoughts go out to the patients and all of the staff on the frontline, hopefully this donation will help them throughout the coronavirus pandemic.”

Emergency children’s surgery and some high dependency care in South Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and Chesterfield is being undertaken in the hospital during the pandemic.

Two downtime areas have been created for staff and craft activities, toys and games are also being funded by the charity for children at their bedside.

Donate to the appeal at www.tchc.org.uk, call 0114 321 2470 or text SHEFFCHILDRENS to 70085 to donate £5.