ROYAL Surrey County Hospital’s special care baby unit has taken delivery of a new piece of life-saving equipment thanks to a team of dedicated fundraisers.

The new Tecotherm machine enables doctors and nurses to control the temperature of babies at risk of brain injury at birth and achieve target temperature within three hours.

It was purchased thanks to the team at private bank Coutts in Guildford, who raised £15,000 as part of a year-long fundraising effort culminating in a 43-mile bike ride from Guildford to Brighton.

Giezl Pulanco, senior sister and manager of the special care baby unit, said: “Around two babies born each month at Royal Surrey will benefit from this machine and research has shown that their clinical outcomes improve the sooner they receive treatment.

“We are extremely grateful to Coutts for their fantastic efforts, which will help us to give those babies who need it the best start possible.”

Wendy Johnson, from Coutts, added: “It is fantastic to see all our efforts have paid off and the Tecotherm machine has finally arrived at Royal Surrey.”