The Neonatal Unit Space to Grow Appeal has delivered!

The appeal complements the Hospital Trust’s expansion of the unit, based within Hull Women and Children’s Hospital, by five specialist neonatal cots. More specifically, funds raised through the appeal’s supporters has enabled WISHH to create:

• A sensory room 
• Development of siblings’ facilities 
• Enhancement of the current quiet room for parents
• Creation of a specialist staff training facility 

Lisa Whitton, WISHH Charity Manager said, 

“We cannot thank everyone involved in supporting the appeal enough for their generosity.  We’ve had the privilege of working alongside families who have used the unit and taken part in a wide range of fundraising activities. We have secured funding from local businesses and charitable trusts.  Community groups and hospital staff have taken part in WISHH organised fundraising events from Hull 10k, the Yorkshire Three Peaks, the NHS Big Tea, the NHS Family Fun Day and much more.

“The improvement work in Hull NICU has been underway throughout the appeal on a phased basis.  Having secured all of the required funding, the unit is now complete and open fully for the benefit of premature babies, their families and staff. Thank you all.”

Francesca Matthews, NICU Unit Manager said, 

“The new enhanced facilities are helping us deliver greater care. The sensory room has enabled us to create magical playtime and stimulation for babies in our care to support their development. It is also a wonderful space for our staff to deliver baby massage alongside parents. The sensory voyager stations are portable and are used around the unit ensuring sensory stimulation can be created in any part of the unit.

“The siblings’ play area has been well received by parents and families on the unit. This space has not only given parents somewhere to spend time with their other children, but visiting times for siblings have been now been increased from five hours a day to eight and a half hours a day.

“The parent’s quiet room has been beautifully transformed with help from the campaign. It is now a bright, yet calming space for parents to take some quiet time with their partner or for sensitive conversations to take place with the medical and nursing team. We are now able to provide families with tea and coffee facilities too, and the feedback has been wonderful from families.

“As we now have a specialist training space, we can teach both clinical and non-clinical staff working in the neonatal team, and it’s still close to the clinical area, we’ve been able to undertake simulation training, induction and clinical skills stations. The environment enables us to recreate the clinical area setting for teaching and learning without disrupting direct patient care.

“The overall feedback from the parents we support has been fantastic; we have received so many positive comments about each of the areas.”

Baby Oakley is one of the premature babies which has been cared for on NICU. In a letter, his parents said:

“Thank you for letting our baby have a touch of normality in a very uncertain time. Oakley was keen to explore and was fixated with the sensory resources, especially the fish lights. For us as parents seeing our baby so content was a very special feeling and we were grateful for the experience provided him in your care.”

Sue Lockwood Chair of the WISHH Charity said, 

“Hull NICU cares for over 500 premature babies each year, some stay for hours or days, others for many months.  The improvements needed for this valuable local facility could only have come about through fundraising.

“As a local Charity, WISHH is dedicated solely to the benefit of Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospitals.

“We are delighted to see this project completed and to hear of the difference the enhancements are already making to babies receiving intensive care and their families.  None of this could have happened without the generosity of donors and supporters and we thank you all.

“Our local hospitals care for over 600,000 patients each year.  If you would like to know more about our work or our current fundraising campaigns and how you can get involved, please visit our website www.wishhcharity.org.uk  Or contact Lisa Whitton, WISHH Charity Manager email lisa.whitton3@nhs.net Tel: 01482 622299.”