Sew a ‘Snuggly’ for SCBU

Posted on April 12, 2016March 6, 2018

NORTH DEVON DISTRICT HOSPITAL Special Care Baby Unit is appealing for those with sewing skills to help parents bond with their babies.

The Special Care Baby Unit is looking for volunteers to help them make ‘snugglies’.

The aim is to give every baby that is cared for on the unit several snugglies, which are small muslin squares that are knotted in one corner, one for the mum and one for the baby.

Muslin snuggly 30 cm x 30 cm

One snuggly is placed in the incubator close to the baby and the other stays close to the parent to pick up their scent. Every few hours they are swapped around so that the baby and the parents share each other’s scent.

Special Care Baby Units across the UK have used snugglies on their wards and have found that it can help the mum and her baby bond, they help the mum to stimulate her milk production and can ease separation anxiety.

Senior Neonatal Staff Nurse & Educator Vikki Baker said “These little squares of muslin make such a difference to our mum’s and their babies. Having a baby in SCBU can be a very emotional time and it is important that we give our mum’s the very best support we can.”

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Vicki Gallagher of Bideford delivered her twin girls at the North Devon District Hospital in March. Brioney and Brooke Gallagher were born at only 35 weeks weighing just 1.615 and 1.295 kilograms and then cared for in the Special Care Baby Unit for 21 days. Vicki said “A snuggly is so important as it helps mums and their babies to become familiar with each other’s smell and it is a comfort to hold the snuggly when the babies are in an incubator and it is difficult to hold them when they are so small and fragile. Having twins was a surprise as there are no twins on my side of the family but I have four other lovely girls who enjoy helping me.”

Over and Above Hospital Charity Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “Our SCBU Unit would be very grateful if volunteers could sew some squares of muslin and tie a knot at one end preferably in pastel colours and either post or bring into the Fundraising Office on Level 2 at North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, EX31 4JB. A few minutes of your time will make a big difference to our unit.”

The Special Care Baby Unit also need in pretty pastel colours or prints, flat brush cotton sheets and cot blankets approximately 500 x 900 mm and small knitted bags to put the baby’s keepsakes in such as namebands, BP cuffs, and first footprints so that parents can take all the items home to ensure these special “first items” do not go astray.

The charity’s latest Appeal is to raise £250,000 towards new equipment for the Special Care Baby Unit. So far, £110,000 has been raised thanks to the generosity of the people of North Devon.

If you would like to give your support to the hospital charity Over and Above Special Care Baby Unit Appeal or one of the many other departments, or if you want to find out more, please visit; www.overandabove.org.uk and the charity’s Facebook page or contact the North Devon District Hospital Fundraising Team on 01271 311772 or email ndht.charity@nhs.net

Seamoor Unit celebrates first birthday

Posted on April 11, 2016March 6, 2018

The new chemotherapy and day treatment centre at North Devon District Hospital has celebrated a busy first year and its first birthday.

Since it opened at the end of March 2015, the Seamoor Unit has seen more than 10,000 patients, divided equally between the unit’s oncology and haematology services.

The £2.5million unit was made possible thanks to the Chemotherapy Appeal, a four-year fundraising campaign promoted by the North Devon Gazette.

Seamoor-Unit-celebrates-first-birthday

The region responded to raise the money, together with large donations from charitable trusts.

The main treatment area is named the Jennifer Bonetta Treatment Room in memory of the founder of the North Devon Cancer Care Centre Trust, which donated hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Unit manager Emma Thoms said she had not known what to expect in the first year, but patients had been delighted with the difference to the former cramped, shared facility at the hospital.

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from patients about the space and it being light and airy,” she said.

Before the unit was built, many patients had to travel to Exeter for treatment.

Now they can enjoy a better environment and an enhanced service that includes specialist nurses to offer telephone or face-to-face advice on dealing with side-effects of treatment.

Fundraising manager Ian Roome said: “A huge thank you to the people of North Devon and Cornwall for their dedicated fundraising.

“But our hospital charity Over and Above stills need to raise funds for additional medical services and equipment at the unit not available on the NHS.”

Article and photo courtesy of North Devon Gazette.

Easter Extravaganza at Cook Island raises £2574.27 for SCBU

Posted on March 30, 2016March 6, 2018

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ON EASTER SUNDAY an Easter Extravaganza was held at Cook Island at Mullacott Cross near Ilfracombe.

Ilfracombe residents Duncan and Angie Mays regularly fundraise for local charities, and decided to support the Special Care Baby Unit at North Devon District Hospital.

Angie said “Some of my friends have had children who were cared for in the Special Care Baby Unit in Barnstaple. We were fortunate that our little girl did not need the unit, but I know many young babies do, and so when I heard that the hospital charity Over and Above had launched the SCBU appeal to raise funds for new equipment my husband Duncan and I wanted to help too.

The event raised an amazing £2,574.27. This was achieved by selling raffle tickets and collecting outside Tescos in the lead up to the event, and on Easter Sunday there was an Easter egg hunt, a treasure island fundraiser, tattoo painting and much more.

Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “The charity is thrilled with the amount that Duncan, Angie and their team raised. Duncan only picked up the fundraising buckets and banners a few days before, and within the week had raised an amazing sum.”

The Appeal is currently concentrating on fundraising for three neonatal ventilators which cost around £2,500 each. The Draeger ventilator is currently on trial in the unit, and this is the ventilator that the clinicians and nursing staff have assessed is needed. The SCBU unit already has ventilators but the equipment is old and the unit currently uses three different machines to get the same result as the Draeger ventilator.

Angie and Duncan came into the unit recently for the cheque presentation with their daughter, Phoebe, and our Neonatal Paediatrician, Dr Michael Salter, had the opportunity to show them the Draeger ventilator. Our Special Care Baby Unit appeal aims to raise £250,000 and so far we have raised an amazing £110,000 thanks to the overwhelming support from the people of North Devon.

Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “I know, with the help of the people of North Devon we will raise the funds for the ventilators. It is important to the hospital that we give our mothers and their families the very best care and support we can during an emotional and stressful time.“

Dance for SCBU

Posted on March 29, 2016March 6, 2018

GET READY to strut your stuff on the dance floor, bust some moves and boogie the night away with the hospital’s Over and Above Charity 12 hour Dance-a-thon.

The event is being organised by Project Dance Devon who offer a wide range of dance classes across North and Mid Devon for all ages and abilities.

Project Dance director Karen Moss said “There will be a variety of dance styles throughout the day to keep you moving. We will start with a warm up of party dances, tap, rumba, freestyle, quickstep, cheer dance, paso doble, musical theatre, line dancing, street dance, rock and roll and burlesque style – saucy not naughty! This event will be fun, fun, fun and is open to everyone so bring your whole family.

“I am a senior nurse at the hospital but also a dance instructor for Project Dance. We have had a fabulous time at the hospital raising funds for the chemotherapy unit by organising a Harlem Shake which got staff from across the hospital involved. It was because we had so much fun with that I thought it would be a perfect time to organise an event which everyone can take part in to support our Special Care Baby Unit Appeal”.

The event kicks off at 8am until 8pm on Sunday 10^th April at Lampard Community School Hall at St Johns Lane, Barnstaple.

To take part simply download the Danceathon entry form 2016 and Sponsorship form and return it with your £2.50 registration fee to the Fundraising Team at North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, EX31 3JB . Alternatively contact the fundraising Department on 01271 311772 or ndht.charity@nhs.net for an entry form. You may also want to set up a Just Giving page on https://www.justgiving.com/OverandAbove/ to help you with your fundraising.

Over and Above Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “We are delighted that Project Dance are supporting our Special Care Baby Unit in such a fun and energetic way. Don’t worry if you have never done it before as a warm up and instructions will be given by Project Dance on the day. If you feel you can’t do all 12 hours, don’t worry – just do what you can or take part as a team. Participants are encouraged to bring pom-poms, tutu’s, cowboy hats.

Just get your dancing shoes (or trainers) on and we will see you there!”

Photographs L-R: North Devon District Hospital Physiotherapy Staff practicing their line dancing for the 12 hour charity dance-a-thon: Physiotherapist Lee Buckland, Administrator Catherine Holman, Staff Physiotherapist Jackie Jones

Renowned Exmoor enthusiast raises money for Cardiology Ward

Posted on March 22, 2016March 6, 2018

Renowned Exmoor enthusiast and wildlife walker Ivan Huxtable organised the 10-mile sponsored walk last year to help raise money for Victoria Ward Cardiology Fund at North Devon District Hospital and the North Devon Hospice.

The walk took in the magnificent views over the moors at West and East Anstey Commons and finished at Hinam Farm near Dulverton where walkers enjoyed a home-cooked stew and dumplings .

Ivan03 A phenomenal £8,760 was raised for the two charities – making it the most success Exmoor Ramble yet.

Ivan has been organising the event for the past 25 year, and has raised more than £100,000 in total for local charities.

Ivan said: “I am absolutely delighted with the result and the funds will be a great help to the two charities.

“It is a lot of hard work organising these events and a lot of people help behind the scenes to make it such a success. Exmoor has some stunning scenery and it is wonderful to be able to share it with our walkers.”

Over and Above Fundraiser Julie Whitton added: “Ivan is an amazing organiser, and has worked extremely hard for us over the years organising the excellent Exmoor Ramble.

“The money raised for the hospital charity will be used to purchase five medical reclining chairs DSCN1922 that enable our patients who need coronary care to sleep more easily, making their time on the ward much more comfortable”.

Petroc students raise money for SCBU

Posted on March 18, 2016March 6, 2018

Petroc Early Childhood Studies Students raised an amazing £353 for the Special Care Baby Unit Appeal by organising a quiz at Alverdiscott Village Hall.

Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “We will be putting this money towards the purchase of a new neonatal ventilator. We are currently trying to raise funds for three ventilators, each one costing £23,500. It is a lot of money but with the support from the Petroc Early Childhood Studies students and the people of North Devon we will raise the funds to make this upgraded equipment a reality in North Devon.”

DSCN1956 best Fundraisers are L-R Zoe Bennett, Felicity Sluman, Poppy Knill, Becky Raby and Daisy Goundry.

Perrigo fund neonatal hotcots for SCBU

Posted on March 11, 2016March 6, 2018

LEADING GLOBAL HEALTHCARE SUPPLIER PERRIGO, who has their UK Headquarters in Wrafton near Braunton, have donated an amazing £7,060 to the Special Care Baby Unit Appeal at North Devon District Hospital.

The money donated by the Perrigo Company Foundation, has been used to purchase two hotcots and neonatal warming mattresses.

Many babies admitted to North Devon District Hospital Special Care Baby Unit require extra help to support their breathing, keeping warm and feeding. These hot cots will enable the Unit to keep babies who have been born prematurely or with a low birth rate at the correct temperature so that they do not become cold quickly. The ‘hot cot’ has a special mattress that can be warmed or cooled according to a baby’s needs. Sometimes if a baby is admitted to SCBU because they are showing signs of being unwell and their ability to produce heat is lowered, the baby will be put in a ‘hot cot’ to ensure optimal temperature, so that recovery can occur more quickly.

Deputy Ward Manager & Senior Staff Nurse Charlotte Woollacott said “The new hot cots will mean we can give our newborn babies who have difficulties in managing their temperature the very best care.”

Over 1,600 babies each year are born to mothers who are cared for by staff at North Devon District Hospital and by midwives working in the community. The Special Care Baby Unit currently treats approximately 250 babies a year (which equates to approximately 1 in 6 babies born at North Devon District Hospital each year). Because North Devon is geographically isolated, it is vital for the survival of our sickest babies that the Special Care Baby Unit offers the very best care that it can.

Newborn twins Luka and Franklin are leap year babies, born on 29^th February to Sarah Louise Beer and Craig Beer. Sarah said “The Special Care Baby Unit staff have been absolutely amazing in looking after our baby boys and we cannot thank Perrigo enough for donating the hot cots which are helping them get stronger.”

Perrigo Senior Leadership Team representative Perry Hopson has visited the unit to see the hot cots being used. Perry said “The Special Care Baby Unit in Barnstaple is a very special place and it was a local appeal that Perrigo were very keen to support. The Perrigo Charitable Foundation’s mission is to provide financial support to non-profit organizations that enhance the health, well-being and education of individuals and families in communities that Perrigo serves. I was cared for in a special care baby unit and know how important the care of a newborn baby is at its early start in life”.

Over and Above Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “We are absolutely delighted to receive such a generous donation from Perrigo. The donation is already benefitting our most vulnerable and poorly babies. Perrigo has been very generous to the Hospital Charity, raising an amazing £22,558 over the past five years supporting the building of the new Seamoor Chemotherapy & Day Treatment Unit and our Special Care Baby Unit Appeal.”

Yearly Archives: 2016