Each year, Hull Hospitals’ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) cares for over 500 premature babies, some stay for hours or days, whilst others stay for weeks and months. Hull is one of four Level 3 NICU’s within the Yorkshire and Humber region, caring for babies from 22 weeks gestation, offering specialist intensive care for babies locally and across the country.

Through the appeal, funds raised will enable WISHH to create:

A sensory room – to enable babies to learn and develop new connections in their brain through light and sound stimulation.

Development of siblings’ facilities – to enable siblings to play whilst families visit, helping to alleviate the stress parents are already going through.

Enhancement of the current parents’ facilities – to create a quiet private space for parents of these tiny and often very poorly infants to reflect and gather their thoughts.

Creation of a staff training facility – to provide an improved on-site training facility for neonatal staff, avoiding the need for staff to leave the unit.

Francesca Matthews, Neonatal Ward Manager said, “Due to the complexity of medical needs, more babies are staying for up to 49 gestational weeks. These ‘older’ babies and their families would greatly benefit from sensory stimulation to support their developmental process, ensuring excellent clinical care alongside vital developmental support. Such facilities will also provide these families with a degree of normality, being able to interact within a calming and creative environment with their baby.

Parents and families who are spending time on the unit for extended periods, will greatly benefit from the new sibling’s and parent’s facilities enhancing and improving their experience at what is a very difficult time. Training is also paramount for our staff and to have a dedicated space will enable educators to deliver specialist training to team members.”

Sue Lockwood, Chair of the WISHH Charity said, “When Neonatal staff in Hull set out their plans to make improvements to benefit premature babies and their families and asked WISHH for our help, trustees had no hesitation giving our support. We are delighted to launch the WISHH Charity’s ‘Space to Grow’ Appeal to raise £100,000. The improvements needed are over and above what can be provided by the NHS.

Parents who have had their pre-term baby cared for in Neonatal Intensive Care know that alongside the highly complex clinical skills needed for their tiny babies, the impact and strain on the family is significant. Many difficult days and nights are spent alongside their infant and family engagement is so important. Current facilities don’t always make that easy.  Please help us reach our target in any way you can.”

Any funds raised above the £100,000 target will be used to support babies, children, young people and families across Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.

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