Panda Warmers donated to country hospitals

Five hospitals in country WA will receive brand new, highly advanced neonatal equipment thanks to a generous donation.

Charity Running for Premature Babies has donated five Panda Neonatal Resuscitaire units to WA Country Health Service sites in Kununurra, Hedland, Geraldton, Northam and Narrogin.

The charity, which provides neonatal equipment to hospitals around Australia, was founded by Sophie Smith OAM after losing her prematurely born triplets in 2006 and has directly benefitted more than 21,000 sick and premature babies.

The equipment will help support clinicians at each site in providing care to neonates, and importantly premature infants.

WA Country Health Service Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Alison Weatherstone thanked the charity for their donation.

“This is an incredibly generous donation, and it will support our clinical staff in providing the very best care to premature babies.”

Each of the five sites receiving a Panda Warmer provide necessary maternity and neonatal services to country communities, where there can be large distances between regional and tertiary services.

WA Country Health Service staff at these locations provide timely assessment and support, helping ensure the best outcome for infants and their families.

“Whether babies are requiring additional care support at our sites or while awaiting transfer to a tertiary site, these units will support our staff to continue to provide the high-quality neonatal care premature infants need,” Alison said.

“Our staff are highly skilled in providing newborn care and these warmers will upgrade the suite of tools they have access to.”

Charity founder Sophie said she was proud to have helped provide lifesaving equipment to hospitals Australia-wide.

“When our triplet sons passed away twenty years ago, my late husband Ash and I founded Running for Premature Babies to honour their lives and help give premature babies a better chance of survival.”

“Ash who sadly passed away in 2016 was from Perth, and so to be able to provide these five Panda Warmers to hospitals across rural and remote WA feels like a truly special way to mark what would have been our triplets’ 20^th birthday this month.”

To raise funds for neonatal equipment and research, Running for Premature Babies holds an annual “Premmie Marathon Challenge”.

Anyone can take part in this virtual challenge to walk or run 71 kilometres throughout the month of November, for the 71 babies born prematurely in Australia every day.

To learn more visit: Premmie Marathon Challenge 2026 | Walk, Run or Ride for Premature Babies.