Christmas comes early for Neonatal Unit at The Royal Oldham Hospital

Clinical Engagement Manager and grandma Libby Woodcock holding baby Lilly Worrall; Consultant Neonatologist Natasha Maddock; mum Lauren Flight holding baby Millie Worrall; Sister Caroline Looby and Health Care Assistant James Antrobus

A cheque for £1,370 has been presented to Consultant Neonatologist Natasha Maddock this week on the Neonatal Unit at The Royal Oldham Hospital, as a special ‘thank you’ from premature twins Lilly and Millie who were treated on the unit.

Lilly and Millie Worrall were born on 16 June 2016 at 02.01am and 02.02am at 29 weeks, weighing just over 2lbs each. They were transferred immediately to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) were they spent the next eight weeks.

Mum Lauren Flight from Shaw said: “Once the twins were settled on NICU I was taken down to see them for the first time. It was a real shock seeing my babies hooked up to the machines and monitors; they looked so fragile. The staff on the unit were fantastic. They were supportive throughout, providing explanations as to what was happening and offering support and reassurance.”

Grandma Libby Woodcock, who is also Clinical Engagement Manager at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I wanted to raise money for the Neonatal Unit and felt it appropriate to link the fundraising with World Prematurity Day on 17 November 2016. I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the dedicated care and support provided by the staff on the unit. It was a very anxious time for us all and they were exceptional.”

Helen Howard, Divisional Director of Midwifery at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We are extremely grateful to Libby for her overwhelming gesture to the Neonatal Unit. The unit strives to provide outstanding care for the babies and families in our care and it is super for the staff in the unit to be recognised for their dedication and hard work. We are delighted to hear Lilly and Millie are doing so well.”

Libby arranged with her training team to sell raffle tickets and cupcakes for four weeks throughout the month of November. They visited all four Trust hospitals and departments raising awareness and money. They also managed to persuade a local business to donate a kettle and toaster that will either be used in the staff room or family room on the unit.

Lilly and Millie are now six months old and weigh just over 10lbs. Libby would like to say a very big ‘thank you’ to all who contributed and Lilly and Millie would like to wish all a very ‘merry Christmas.’

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit fully opened on 3 December 2012 as part of The Royal Oldham Hospital's new £44m Women and Children’s facilities. These included a purpose-built four storey building, new antenatal wards, labour delivery rooms, midwife-led birth centre, obstetric theatres, children's unit and paediatric theatre, as well as the brand new Level three Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The Royal Oldham Hospital is one of three specialist regional neonatal centres providing the highest level of intensive care to the smallest and most vulnerable babies. The NICU consists of 37 cots with nine intensive care, nine high dependency and 19 special care cots.