15 April 2025

Grampians Health’s Horsham’s Yandilla ward is one of the first maternity units in Australia to receive the very latest design in neo-natal transfer cots.

The cot’s arrival is made possible by the generous support of the Wimmera Base Hospital Ladies Auxiliary whose members are celebrating the auxiliary’s 100 Years: A Centenary of Support this year.

A "neonatal transfer cot" is a specialised cot used for transporting critically ill or premature infants between hospitals or within a hospital. The cots ensure safe and comfortable transport while maintaining the infant’s temperature and vital signs.

Yandilla nurse unit manager Michelle Coutts said the new transfer cot was a great advancement on the previous one.

“The new one is much more compact and has a really good display with digital controls, making it much easier to use,” Ms Coutts said.

“We would use a transfer cot on average about 10 times a year and that might not sound like much but it’s extremely important when it is needed,” she said.

“It is mainly used for non-urgent transfers from Yandilla to Ballarat or Melbourne but is also utilised occasionally by our Emergency Department.

Ms Coutts said she was extremely grateful to the Ladies Auxiliary for their generosity and congratulated them on 100 years of support to the hospital.

“That’s an incredible achievement and we are very lucky to have their continued support. I know they have supplied this department with a great deal of vital equipment over the time.”

Grampians Health Chief People Officer Claire Woods backed Ms Coutts’ comments, commending the Auxiliary members for their incredible fundraising work.

“Grampians Health made a commitment that donations raised in a particular community would be spent on improving healthcare at the corresponding campus,” Ms Woods said.

“This has been the case from day one and will continue that way.

“The way healthcare is being delivered is changing with new technologies and approaches to care in place. The work of our region’s various fundraising partners is vitally important to improve access to more services closer to home.”

Yandilla nurse unit manager Michelle Coutts and Horsham Maternity
Clinic manager Jane Rentsch with the new transfer cot.