On 29th July, the members of SI Malta attended the Mater Dei Hospital to present two Accuvein devices to Consultant Paediatricians. The presentation was attended by both the Minister for Health, and Mrs Muscat, the wife of the Prime Minister.
An Accuvein device lights up and digitally displays on the skin a map of the veins from which a doctor or nurse wants to take a blood sample. In children this can be a traumatic event, especially for the young ones. By knowing exactly where to insert the needle, the need to repeat the procedure due to failure is reduced by 50%. Even adults benefit from a more accurate procedure.
The funds were raised from local sponsors for one device and the manufacturers matched that with the gift of a second device which has revolutionised venesection in the children’s wards of Mater Dei.