HEREFORD County Hospital has received nine lifesaving machines which can detect serious heart conditions in newborn babies.

Charity Tiny Tickers donated the pulse oximetry machines to the hospital, meaning heart conditions which aren't picked up on prenatal scans can be detected as soon as possible.

Wye Valley NHS Trust said a baby is born with a serious heart condition every two hours in the UK, and as some conditions can't be detected before birth, some babies are at risk of falling into the early stage of heart failure if their condition is not diagnosed in time.

The simple monitors will be used by paediatricians and midwives to help improve early detection rates of congenital heart disease (CHD) for new born babies born at Hereford County Hospital.

The nine monitors were funded by The Keith Coombs Trust, a charity which aims to help a variety of different groups of people.

Anthony Coombes from the Trust, said: "The Keith Coombs Trust is very proud to support Tiny Tickers and the invaluable and heart-warming work it does with children to make possible the lives most of us can happily take for granted".

Cathryn Seagrave, paediatric consultants at Wye Valley NHS Trust, said: "Having been involved in the pulse-ox trial as a trainee I saw how this improved the pick-up of both congenital heart disease and sepsis earlier and strongly believe this an important screening test for babies and this generous donation means we can continue to offer this vital testing to babies born in Herefordshire".

Tiny Tickers, the national charity that aims to improve early detection, diagnosis and care of babies with heart conditions, wants to change this situation in the UK.

Jon Arnold, chief executive from Tiny Tickers said: "We are truly delighted that we are able to help in this way and hope that it supports the team to continue to provide the best possible care for babies on the unit".