Baby monitors were invented for one reason only, and that was to help parents protect their sleeping children.
But for some parents different kinds of monitors altogether are required if their child has to go into hospital for any reason. There are countless wards and high dependency units where young babies and children go if they are poorly and need a high level of nursing care.
In this type of situation you would expect the best level of care at all times. And of course that is usually what you will get. Nurses who go into this avenue of caring are always dedicated and devoted to their jobs. These units have no doubt saved the lives of many young infants, together with all the monitors and equipment they have, and they go on to live full lives as a result.
Unfortunately there are rare occasions when things can go wrong. Recently there were reports online of a case where a nurse had chosen to ignore the heart monitor that was recording the condition of a baby who was very ill. Although the incident took place back in early 2006, it has not been until now that the Nursing and Midwifery Council has held a disciplinary panel to resolve the matter. The outcome of this was that the nurse will be struck off and will no longer be able to perform her duties as a nurse.
The incident happened at the world renowned Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. And apparently all the news reports state that this incident was not the first the nurse had been involved in. This is partly why she has been struck off the register – although there is no doubt that the incident itself was very serious.
It is plain to see that the baby monitors used in hospitals have a very different and more precise nature than the ones most parents use at home. But the main reason for using them is really the same, and in this case the baby needed to be monitored all the time. It was evident that the nurse turned off the alarm on the baby’s monitor and turned her back on him. Apparently she did this in order to talk to another baby’s parents, but clearly the decision was not the right one to take.
It should be pointed out that this case is a notable exception in the high standard of care offered and carried out daily by this and many other hospitals. But it does highlight the reasons why we have baby alarms – of all kinds – both in hospitals and at home.
If those in charge of caring for a child ignore the warning signs given, then why use the alarms at all? Thankfully this was an isolated case and the baby was not harmed by the lapse in care.
But it does make you think more carefully about why you use baby monitors at home, doesn’t it? They are there for one reason only – and that is to keep an eye on baby.