Your funding has helped detect congenital heart conditions early

Your fundraising has helped bring about an early detection initiative for babies with congenital heart disease.

Pulse Oximetry monitors can indicate heart or respiratory issues quickly and effectively by measuring the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Thanks to our supporters, £15,000 was contributed to the project, which has bought 20 monitors.

If the reading on the monitors determines a lower level than expected (under 95%) the baby can then be referred for further tests.

Led by

, a national charity aiming to improve early detection, diagnosis and care of babies with heart conditions, the initiative involves the machines being placed in maternity wards across Yorkshire and Humber.

Due to your fundraising, plus donations from

, Leeds General Infirmary is the first hospital in the region to receive this resource.

Sharon Coyle, CEO of Children’s Heart Surgery Fund said:

We’re very pleased to help fund improvements in congenital heart disease detection. It will prove hugely significant for future patients in our region.

A baby is born with a serious heart condition every two hours in the UK.

Despite congenital heart disease being one of the biggest killers of infants in the UK, less than half of congenital heart defects are picked up during routine pre-natal scanning.

Without this machine, serious defects could go undetected. Tiny Tickers is hoping to roll this programme out nationally in the coming months.

Dr Elspeth Brown, a consultant paediatric and fetal cardiologist at Leeds Congenital Heart unit added:

We really welcome this initiative from Tiny Tickers which will undoubtedly save lives.

Thanks to all our supporters for your dedication and commitment to our cause, and we will continue to share the brilliant equipment your hard work is funding. Sign up to the blog, to make sure you don’t miss anything!