Mum's thanks to Blackpool's Neonatal Unit heroes

A grateful family has said a special thank you to staff on Blackpool's Neonatal Unit who helped care for their baby when he was born premature weighing just three pounds.
Louise Hall and Daniel, two, visit staff on the childrens ward where they have donated toys with family members Rachel and Nigel Hind and Andrew Cross, far left, and Kate Hind, far right.Louise Hall and Daniel, two, visit staff on the childrens ward where they have donated toys with family members Rachel and Nigel Hind and Andrew Cross, far left, and Kate Hind, far right.
Louise Hall and Daniel, two, visit staff on the childrens ward where they have donated toys with family members Rachel and Nigel Hind and Andrew Cross, far left, and Kate Hind, far right.

Little Daniel Hall, now two, spent six weeks on the Unit, and his mum Louise, dad Dave, auntie Rachel Hind – one of the hospital’s paediatric nurses – and grandparents Nigel and Kate Hind, decided to hold a charity night to raise money in thanks for his care.

The event was held at Knott End Working Men’s Club in May, and featured the band The Rockits – the resident band for The Cavern Club in Liverpool – as well as a raffle and auction. It raised a total of £2,344.

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Nigel said: “This donation is thanks largely to the people of Over Wyre, who gave their support to this event and proved how generous they truly are. They all came out on the night and donated some amazing prizes.”

The family used almost £650 of the money to buy toys for the Children’s Ward at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, and the rest – £1,700 – was handed to Blue Skies Hospitals Fund, the charity for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

It will be put towards a project to refurbish the Neonatal Unit’s Isolation Room.

Ward Manager Catherine Nash said: “Our Isolation Room is rarely used, and we want to open the space up for children who no longer need to be in such a clinical room, but still need neonatal care.

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“We would like to have a sofa and a rocking chair put in here, and to have it redecorated, and then we would like to furnish it with toys and equipment for young siblings when they are visiting their new baby brothers or sisters.

“It will ideally be a space for babies who are a bit more stable and who will benefit from sensory play and bonding with their families.

“It will also be a quiet space where mothers can establish breast feeding.” The room will still be used for babies who require isolation, and the project is expected to cost around £2,000. Daniel’s mum, Louise, 28, from Poulton, said: “Daniel was born at 31 weeks and one day, and was on the unit for six weeks.

“Honestly, he wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the care and support he received there. We can’t fault the Unit or the staff who work there, so it really does mean a lot that we’re able to make this donation.”

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