Current Priority Needs
We are often asked for our current priority needs, with estimated costs.
Here is the current list.
FOSC Ward Staff *Priority Need*
£50,000 / ($ 70,000) is needed each year just to secure the existing over-stretched team of 30.
£100,000 / ($ 140,000) is needed each year to grow the team to meet the demand for healthcare.
The £ and $ amounts can swing wildly because of volatility of the currencies so
re-assesments can be made at the time of donations.
Existing Needed
Paediatric nurses 13 25
Clinical Officers - 3
Patient Attendants (nurse auxilliaries) 10 15 Homecraft workers/play attendants 5 7 Teacher 1 1 Handyman/maintenance 1 1 ----- ------ 30 52 === ===
Drugs
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Cardiac clinic - £ 1,250/$1,750 per annum (mostly digoxin, captopril or enalapril, spironolactone)
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Neurology / epilepsy clinic - £ 1,525/$2,135 per annum (sodium valproate, carbamazepine)
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Sickle cell clinic - £ 625/$875 per annum (hydroxyurea)
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Diabetes clinic - £ 625/$875 per annum for insulin
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Neonatal follow up clinic – providing mostly iron and vitamins for our ex-prem babies - £ 625/$875 per annum
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General and asthma clinic - £ 315/$440 for steroid inhalers
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Inpatient drugs: £1,525/$2,135 for amoxicillin or augmentin suspension, IV cloxacillin, ciprofloxacin suspension.
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Oxygen cylinders: £ 625/$875 per annum to fill. (we use these to transport patients)
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Lactogen (for orphaned babies): £1,250/$1750 per annum
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HIV positive children - Fluconazole suspension £ 625/$875 per annum
Equipment needs
Blood sugar monitors and sticks. Many children who are ill have a low blood sugar and it is important to test it in an emergency. Monitors (20) and sticks for a year estimated at £1,785 ($2,500).
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Good quality blood pressure / saturation monitors (mobile, on stands). Each costs £1,425 ($2,000) for a reasonable quality one. We need another 3 for the neonatal unit to cover all our wards.
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Oxygen concentrators. We have no ‘piped gases’ – rather we get oxygen from machines which extract it from the air. Several are getting old and are in need of repair or replacement. We need 5 including shippage and a basic new one costs about £2,142 ($3,000) including the shipping etc. A portable one that will reduce our need for cylinders costs £2,360 ($3,300). We could really do with 2 portable ones.
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Suction machines. We need 10 manual / foot pump ones. Each costs about £145 ($200)
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Vital Signs Monitors £1,950 ($2,750) each
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Admission stationary £ 1,075 ($1,500) per annum
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Equipment that is being disposed of in the UK or elsewhere, but we will gladly use:
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Drip stands
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Metal trolleys
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Ultrasound machines (but please contact us first!)
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Patient trolleys
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Wheelchairs
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IV cannulas – 22 or 24 g
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Intraosseous needles
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Phototherapy machines
Maintenance
This is extremely difficult to budget for as reliable engineers are scarce. However, we could spend £3,600 ($5,000) a year on this extremely easily should we find a suitable partner.
Training
Although not so easy for donors to appreciate immediately, this is an important need and is a very sustainable way of improving healthcare.
£1,425/$2000 pa for 3 years will train a specialist clinical officer in paediatric medicine.
£5,000/$7500 over 2 years will train a specialist nurse in children’s medicine to degree level.