Makeover for parent rooms

Special parent rooms on the hospital’s Neonatal Unit have been given a major makeover thanks to a generous donation from the Ronald MacDonald Children's Charity (RMCC) to The Children’s Hospital Trust Fund at Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust.

£71,000 has been spent on re-organising and refurbishing two new parent rooms and a day room so that there is a peaceful place for parents to stay whilst their babies are being cared for on the unit.

Parents can also use these rooms as a first step before taking their baby home. They can stay in the room overnight with their baby but have the comfort of knowing that there are specialists on hand to help if they are worried. This helps parents to build up their confidence before they go home with their baby.

The parent rooms boast ensuite facilities and televisions. The day room has comfortable seating, television and cooking facilities.

The rooms will be officially opened on Thursday 6 October at 11.00 by mum Carolyn Bond. Carolyn, from Barnes, knows only too well what it’s like to spend time on the Neonatal Unit. She spent nearly six months there after the birth of her twins, Bertie and Jemima, on 6 November 2004.

Despite bring born at 30 weeks and with Bertie weighing only 1lb 4ozs and Jemima just 3lbs - they survived and are now enjoying life at home with their mum.

Carolyn said: “The nursing staff were second to none – they saved my children’s lives and kept me going. I was delighted to be asked to come and open the new parents rooms. I know how important it is to have somewhere peaceful and quiet to rest when you are spending a lot of time on the unit.”

Chairman of The Children’s Hospital Trust Fund at Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust, Dr Martin Brueton, said: “We are delighted to acknowledge the generosity of RMCC in making it possible to establish the overnight stay rooms which will be an enormous benefit for the families we are for in the Unit.”

Note to Editors

• Reporters and photographers are invited to the official opening at 11.00 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Please confirm with the press office on 020 7808 9899 if you plan to attend.
• The Children’s Hospital Trust Fund was set up at the Old Westminster Hospital in 1981 and so far has raised more than £1m. Its purpose is to make charitable contributions towards the purchase of medical and surgical equipment for the paediatric areas and to provide help and comfort for sick children in hospital, in the community at large and at home.

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