Creating a “home from home”
A ‘home-from-home’ for the families of babies at Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) has been given a £15,000 makeover, thanks to donations to Milton Keynes Hospital Charity.
The Neonatal Unit Family Room is part of a larger offer of support for parents who have babies born too early, too small or very ill, including counselling sessions, breast pumps and special packs for parents.
Every year, around 10% of all babies born at MKUH are cared for on the neonatal unit – approximately 350 per year.
In a very special moment, the room was opened on Thursday May 1 by Oscar Brill. Oscar, now 10, was cared for on the unit as a baby and during the Pandemic raised funds for the cause over a number of months by growing his hair. Oscar was joined by his family, alongside the Brock family, who supported the family room after their little boy Oliver was born prematurely.
The Neonatal Unit Family Room is for parents and families to use during their stay in hospital. Thanks to donations, it now has comfortable seating, an eating area and light and bright kitchen. Even the colours of the walls have been chosen to make the room feel warm and welcoming.
Swipe below to see the transformation
Diane Gray, Senior Sister and Family Care Lead on the Neonatal Unit said:
We’ve co-designed this room with our parents on the unit, which makes this family room refurbishment extremely special. Many of the families on the unit have commented on the transformation, which has only been made possible because of donations.
Sam and Craig Brock, whose baby Oliver was born at 29 weeks said:
It is a privilege to know our donation is being used to make the ward a comfortable and less clinical space for families. Having had the chance to visit the new family room, it is so bright, fresh and creates a calm place for families to take a breath away from the intensity and even the beeping of all the machines. We hope that current and future families can enjoy the space as much as we would
Kimme and Ben Brill, who have had both their children cared for on the unit said:
When you are on the neonatal unit you want to be close to your baby, at all times! So having a safe place to recoup for a moment or just sit on the sofa together but still be on the unit is such a blessing. It’s the little things mean the most.
Other projects your donations have funded for the Neonatal Unit
- Neonatal 3D Tour Project video
- New counselling room for parents
- A camera and printer
Vanessa Holmes, Charity Lead at Milton Keynes University Hospital said:
Milton Keynes Hospital Charity supports and encourages the Milton Keynes community to fundraise and donate to ongoing projects in the hospital. For the neonatal unit, these donations have funded state of the art incubators, counselling rooms, cuddle cots for twin babies and now the family room transformation. We need to emphasise that NONE of this could be achieved without the support of our community. We’re really grateful, thank you.”
