Friends of the Coombe is a charity organisation established in 1982 to help raise funds to assist the development of the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital and support its vital research programmes. The hospital is one of the largest, most comprehensive providers of Women and Infant healthcare in Europe.
Since it was founded in 1826, the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital has distinguished itself as a world-class medical centre providing care for the newborn and women of all ages at the highest level.
Over 700 medical, nursing, midwifery, research scientists and other staff are committed every day to providing world-class medical care for the needs of women and infants.
Funds raised by Friends of the Coombe support three main areas in the hospital. Mothers and Babies:
The hospital delivered over 8,000 babies in 2008. It is a national referral centre for pregnant women who have complex pregnancies. The hospital ensures that all mothers have the best care available, to maintain its position at the forefront of obstetric care this hospital must continually invest in new technology.The paediatric service at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital is one of our greatest strengths. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit seeks to acquire the latest technology and equipment for the care of sick babies, particularly those infants who are very small and premature.
Gynaecological Services:
The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital plays a leading role in gynaecological care in Ireland. Funds raised by the Friends of the Coombe play an important part in supporting gynaecological services, both diagnostic and therapeutic gynaecological surgery.
Research:
The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital is currently a global leader in a wide range of areas in women and infant’s health research. To advance this success and set new challenges and goals, the hospital must continue to seek to answer important questions directly related to improving the health of women and infants.Our Research Laboratory focuses on a wide range of areas including cervical and breast cancer as well as paediatric diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Investing in the relevant technology will allow the laboratory to concentrate on the prevention of disease through better understanding.
Prioritized Wish List:
Omnibed Giraffe Incubator €50,000
Our patients need gentle care and an environment in which their individual requirements can be given every attention. The giraffe omnibed provides an advanced user-friendly and developmentally supportive microenvironment for the intensively ill infant. The elevating hood provides instant and uncompromised access to perform necessary procedures and eliminates the need to move the infant.
Neonatal Monitoring System €25,000
When life is most fragile, needs can change in a heartbeat and in those precious moments decisions are critical and the right information is vital.The solar monitor is specifically designed to meet the high-acuity needs of our patients in the NICU.
Infant Flow Sipap Machine €16,000
The infant flow system provides a non-invasive form of respiratory support for the compromised infant, with clinically proven benefits and optimal comfort for the infant.
Cosytherm Neonatal Warming System €27,000
The Cosytherm Neonatal Warming System provides active warming therapy for use in the treatment or prevention of hypothermia thus reducing the need for incubator nursing.
