Hawke's Bay Freemasons have raised $60,000 to provide Hawke's Bay Hospital with an advanced newborn baby mannequin to provide training for medical staff in emergency situations.
The Masons' former district grand master, Paul Brittin, said he initiated the project in 2012 after two senior nurses from the hospital spoke of the urgent need for specialised training to cope with newborn baby emergencies.
He said the Sim-New-B mannequin was proposed as an ideal training tool but funding constraints had prevented the hospital buying one. Hawke's Bay has a high infant mortality rate.
