For families across our region having a very premature or critically ill baby can be terrifying. One moment they’re welcoming their precious child into the world and the next their baby’s life may depend on urgent specialist care - care that smaller hospitals simply can’t provide.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’ve funded three Flight Transport Incubators, essentially mobile Intensive Care Units, so that premature babies born in regional hospitals can be safely airlifted to Wellington Regional Hospital for specialist care in the NICU.
Baby Koko's emergency dash to Wellington
When baby Koko was born three months early at Gisborne Hospital, weighing just 736 grams, her life was on the line.
Supported by the caring NICU flight retrieval team, she made the emergency dash to Wellington in a fully equipped mobile intensive care unit, designed to support fragile infants during transfer. This advanced equipment is vital, helping ensure babies like Koko get the critical care they need, no matter where they’re born.
“It was terrifying. I’d just had a baby and didn’t know if she’d survive the flight. I’m really thankful to the NICU Flight Team’s doctors and nurses for looking after her.” - Waimarie
Wellington Regional Hospital is a tertiary hospital serving a wide area - Gisborne to Nelson - and is the only centre in our region with the specialised equipment needed to care for the most vulnerable newborns. The hospital’s NICU Flight Service is on call 24/7, ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
Every baby deserves the best start and your donations help make that possible.