When coronavirus hit, we were all unsure of what the future held. Despite the uncertainty, here at Mercy Health we knew we had to be prepared — our residents, patients and clients rely on our critical care.
Amy Farrelly, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse Unit Manager at Mercy Hospital for Women, is all too familiar with the pressure this pandemic has placed on her and the NICU team. “All our staff have been affected by the changes that the coronavirus pandemic has brought about,” Amy says. “Whether it be partners losing jobs, having to homeschool children, or holidays being cancelled.”
It was a challenge for Amy and the other NICU nurse unit managers and staff to rapidly adapt the NICU’s procedures to accommodate new physical distancing rules while, at the same time, continuing to provide the best care for our smallest patients and their families.
“The main difference within the nursery is the visitor restrictions. We have had some occasions where families have been unable to visit due to requiring isolation while waiting for coronavirus swab results. We have used FaceTime on the nursery iPads so families could stay connected to their babies.”
In late April, Mercy Health Foundation introduced the Critical Coronavirus Appeal to ensure our frontline staff had appropriate equipment and facilities to battle this pandemic.
Having a Foundation we can reach out to, to help us implement changes and provide monetary support for improving the care we provide, is amazing.
The haste of the Critical Coronavirus Appeal was matched by the readiness of donors, new and old, to demonstrate their support. We have been deeply encouraged by every single donation we have received so far, big and small.
For Amy, knowing that the broader community directly supports her work through donations made to the Foundation is incredibly heartwarming. “Having a Foundation we can reach out to, to help us implement changes and provide monetary support for improving the care we provide, is amazing,” she says.
While the immediate pressures of coronavirus have eased, our healthcare services still need to be prepared for any possible scenario. As we look towards the future and adjust, the Foundation is once again calling upon the generosity and compassion of the community. The Help Us Fight Appeal has opened to assist our services now and beyond coronavirus.
If you would like to donate to Mercy Health Foundation, please visit mercyhealthfoundation.org.au
Last reviewed July 29, 2020.