On Wednesday 18 October, CHF (The Children’s Heart Federation) invited all MP’s to meet Beatty Bear in Portcullis House, House of Commons, to support its Think Heart event.
The Think Heart campaign looks to bring light on the use of pulse oximeters. These devices help with the early diagnosis of babies with critical heart or breathing conditions, before they become seriously ill. The technology measures the level of oxygen in the blood that is travelling around the body. If the amount of oxygen in the blood is inefficient, doctors can then provide extra oxygen if needed.
Pulse oximetry is different from other techniques as it is non-invasive, meaning that it is more suitable for children and babies as only a probe is placed on somewhere like your finger.
A baby with a critical condition may be at significant risk of disability or even death if not diagnosed soon after birth. This is why these machines are so vitally important for hospitals to have, especially if they could potentially save babies lives or prevent future disabilities.
The pulse oximetry screening test can help detect critical congenital heart defects in new-born babies through using modern technology from innovative companies such as Medtronic Covidien or other medical device suppliers.
The campaign is starting to gain more attention. For example, Clacton MP, Giles Watling showed his support by meeting Beatty Bear and posing for photographs whilst learning more about the work the charity is trying to do with this campaign.
To find out more about our important campaign, please click here: http://www.chfed.org.uk/campaigns/thinkheart/
