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Barely Born Appeal Fundraising Stepped Up Work on the £1.5m project to build the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Mary’s Hospital, Newport on the Isle of Wight has commenced. Alongside this fundraising for the Barely Born Appeal, which is supporting the project, is being stepped up and a number of events are planned for the spring and summer. The existing unit was designed during the 1970's when equipment available to support neonate babies was limited. Almost 40 years on, up to ten large pieces of equipment are used to support one sick baby. This means that the current unit is simply running out of space and because it is located downstairs from the maternity ward it is not ideal as mothers are separated from their babies. Builders from the main contractor, Stoneham Construction Ltd, have moved onto the St. Mary’s Hospital site and have already made significant progress in the programme to remodel what was previously office space neighbouring the Maternity Unit. The Children, Maternity and Therapies offices have been re-located on a temporary basis to St. Cross Business Park, adjacent to the St. Mary’s Hospital site, where they are sharing accommodation with Glanvilles Solicitors. The initial building work for the new NICU worth £800,000 is expected to last until the Summer and includes: - Relocation of the Unit to the same level and adjacent to the maternity unit and labour ward
- Increased cot capacity from 9 to 11 cots to accommodate the babies that need specialist care
- Patient privacy to enable feeding to be established
- Room for mothers and babies to be together
- Space to enable parents, doctors and nurses to work alongside each other to provide specialist and family centered care to every baby that needs it
- Overnight accommodation facilities for parents who want to spend time on the unit near to their baby
- Play facilities for siblings in order to entertain brothers and sisters whilst parents take care of the new baby
- Quiet/Counselling Room to support families who need a quiet space in which to come to terms with their baby's illness
- Modern, bright, surroundings creating that all-important home from home atmosphere that promotes bonding, recovery and wellbeing.
Building work worth £496,000 to reconfigure and extend of the old NICU space to accommodate the return of the office staff to the St Mary’s staff is expected to start once the NICU has transferred to its new location. Pamela George, Sister in Neonatal Intensive Care, says: “We’re really excited that building work has started and we will eagerly be watching progress. Our current Unit was built with the demands of the 1970s in mind. Much has happened in the care of premature and very sick babies since then so this new Unit will make a big difference to the service we provide to Island parents and their babies.” The Barely Born Appeal is aiming to raise a total of £290,000 towards the costs of the scheme and supporters of the NICU have already raised £100,000. Fiona Collyer, from the Barely Born Appeal comments: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has already contributed to the appeal or is planning an event for us. We’re looking forward to a very busy spring and summer in which we hope to raise thousands of pounds towards this essential service for the Island. Offers of support for the appeal and fund raising ideas are welcome.” For information about the Barely Born Appeal please visit www.barelyborn.co.uk or telephone Fiona Collyer on 01983-552264 or e-mail barelyborn@iow.nhs.uk. Notes for Editors 1. For further information: Contact the NHS Isle of Wight communications team on 01983 534184 or 552003. Further information about health services can be found at www.iow.nhs.uk or www.nhs.uk.
2. A list of forthcoming fundraising events is attached.
THE BARELY BORN APPEAL UPDATE 18/2/09 BORN TO THANK
A huge thank you to everyone who donated prizes and bought tickets for Cheryl Burtwell’s raffle. Cheryl raised an amazing £551.95 for the appeal. BORN TO RAFFLE Many thanks to the students at the Isle of Wight College for organising a wonderful, traditional Afternoon Tea for us on 12 February 2009. The catering and customer service was fantastic! BORN TO RELAX Thank you to Tracy Asher and Pete Skinner for raising money for the appeal at their weekly Newport Quiz. We really appreciate the amount of time and effort that goes into these evenings. Thank you to Uma & Tara Joshi, Naomi Hobbs and Maureen Gales for selling wands on behalf of the appeal. WOULD LIKE TO FIRE WALK?
We want to encourage as many people as possible to register for the Isle of Wight Walking Festival’s Launch Fire Walk on 9 May 2009, 9.00 pm at Newport Quay. Brave the glowing embers and walk over hot coals with bare feet. For more information go to http://www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk/news/fire-walk-launches-the-walking-festival.aspx. We already have three people on the Barely Born Fire Walking Team. Please join us. BORN TO FIRE WALK BORN TO COLLECT
A big thank you to everyone for continuing to collect envelopes with stamps on for the appeal. We have raised £413 so far! This is quite an achievement. Please keep going as this really does provide vital funds for the appeal. BORN TO COLLECT BORN TO E-BAY
Just to let everyone know that the Barely Born Appeal is now listed on E-Bay. This means that anyone can sell items on E-Bay and donate a percentage of the sale to the Barely Born Appeal. Our E-bay volunteers are also happy to list donated items for you. Any donated items for E-Bay can be delivered to Fiona Collyer in the Barely Born Appeal Office, Child, Family and Therapy Services. BORN TO E-BAY BORN TO GIFTAID
By supplying your Full Name, Address and Post Code, Signature and Date will increase your donation by 25% for the appeal. This means that the appeal can claim £1.25 for every £1 donated. Please ensure that you make the most of your donation by supplying this information. BORN TO GIFTAID BORN TO ANSWER
The Seaview Hotel is dedicating Quiz Nights to the Barely Born Appeal. The Quiz dates are Sunday, 22 March 2009 and Sunday, 19 April 2009. Teams of four, £2.00 entrance fee per person. There will also be a Cockney Auction at the end of the Quiz. Please go along and support the hotel as it raises vital funds for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We have attended the Quiz before and it really is an enjoyable evening. BORN TO ANSWER BORN TO QUESTION
Following the success of the Born to Think Quiz Night at the Riverside and the Born to Answer 60th Anniversary Quiz, Tracy Asher and Pete Skinner have kindly agreed to help organise another Quiz Night for the Barely Born Appeal. The BORN TO QUESTION QUIZ NIGHT will be held on Friday, 27 February at 7.30 pm at the Riverside Centre, Newport. May we request that you enter in teams of four, £10 entrance fee per team and we are asking each team to bring along a raffle prize. Please register your team no later than Friday, 20 February 2009 either by telephone on 01983 552264 or e-mail to fiona.collyer@iow.nhs.uk. Please come along and support this popular event. The last Quiz Nights were really successful. We look forward to seeing you! BORN TO QUESTION BORN TO QUIZ
St Mary’s Social Club is hosting another Quiz Night and Raffle for the Barely Born Appeal on Friday, 6 March 2009 at 7.45 pm. Teams of four are preferred although teams of no more than six are acceptable. Entrance is £1.50 per person and a buffet will be supplied. Teams are asked to bring along a raffle prize if possible. To register your team, please contact George Risely on extension 4215 or via e-mail on george.risely@iow.nhs.uk. BORN TO QUIZ BORN TO SPOOKY BOOGIE
Many thanks to Christine Lacey, Shirley Stables and Raphael Menacci for organising the Born to Spooky Boogie event to be held on Friday, 13 March 2008 at the Riverside Centre from 8.00 pm to 1.00 am. Tickets are available from Christine Lacey and are £5.00 each. Fancy dress is optional. There will be a ‘lucky ticket’ prize presented on the night. This promises to be a really good evening. Please support Christine and her team and order your tickets now on extension 4908. BORN TO SPOOKY BOOGIE BORN TO RAVE
Thank you so much to organisers of the Under 18’s (4.00 pm to 8.00 pm) and Over 18's (9.00 pm to 3.00 am) Born to Rave' Event which will be held on Saturday, 14 March 2009 at Newport Football Club, St George's Way, Newport. £10.00 ticket entry in advance or £15.00 on the door. First 100 tickets sold come with free CD. Tickets are available from: Paramount Cafe, Shanklin News (Shanklin), AB News (Ryde), Theatre Mania, Generation (Newport), Blake News (Cowes), Seasons (Ventnor), The Cabin (Freshwater) and all Spar shops across the island. Born to Rave will feature Hardcore Legend, Slipmatt, Random ?, Woggles, Phantom, Rian B, Parky, Davies and Ricky Redhead. Main MC is Charlie B with JMO and Redi' Knight. For more information call 07542 982 939. Please note that ID will be required and everyone will be searched on the door. BORN TO RAVE BORN TO DINE
A wonderful ‘Born to Dine’ black tie event will be held in aid of the Barely Born Appeal at Cowes Yacht Haven on Saturday, 18 April 2009 at 7.30 pm. Treat yourself to a fabulous, stylish three-course dinner. Ben DJ Glover from Galaxy FM will host the evening and there will also be a Grand Auction. Tickets are £30 each and are available from Fiona Collyer on extension 2264. Tables of 10 can also be booked. BORN TO DINE BORN TO WALK
Get involved with the Isle of Wight Walking Festival. Join Maddison on Maddison’s Duck Feeding Walk on Monday11 May 2009 at 11.00 am. Assemble in Big Mead Car Park. Join us as we walk around the picturesque park at Big Mead. A chance to play in the playground before walking to the duck pond to feed the ducks. (Bring your own duck food). Booking is essential so please contact Kelly Morey on 07983 355622. There is no cost for the walk however a voluntary donation to the Barely Born Appeal would be gratefully received. BORN TO WALK BORN TO WALK
Get involved with the Isle of Wight Walking Festival. The Princess Walk will take place on Sunday 24 May 2009 at Carisbrooke Castle Car Park and will commence at 11.30 am. This is a children's Prince and Princess Parade around the outside of Carisbrooke Castle. Everyone is encouraged to dress in their finery and bring a picnic to enjoy. Booking is essential so please contact Mari-Louise White on 07825 004224. There is no cost for the walk however a voluntary donation to the Barely Born Appeal would be gratefully received. BORN TO WALK BORN TO WALK
Two young gentlemen, David Harrison and Graham Elliott will be walking around the Island for the appeal. David and Graham will walk 35 miles on 20 June 2009 and 35 miles on 21 June 2009. They will camp overnight in the Bouldnor/Ningwood area. If you see David and Graham during the weekend, please give them a wave! BORN TO WALK BORN TO SHOW
Now in its eighth year, one of the largest and most popular Car Shows in the South of England promises this year to exceed all previous events both in attendances and the sheer variety of vehicles on display. All types and categories of vehicles from veteran, vintage and classic eras, through custom and retro cars and motorcycles to specialist military and commercial classes. Included within the 800 or so exhibits expected to attend will be a large contingent of Minis in celebration of the 50th anniversary of this historic model while at the other end of the scale, a number of prestigious Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts - proclaimed in its day as the Best Car in the World - will also be in attendance. This two day event opens on Saturday, 19 September 2009 at Newport Quay and moves to Ryde Esplanade on Sunday, 20 September 2009. The rising popularity of the show draws exhibitors and spectators from all over the UK and Europe. Both days are free entry for spectators. Exhibitors should contact the organise, Victor Gallucci on 020 8439 7871. All proceeds from this Classic Car Extravaganza are donated to worthy Island Charities. Saturday's show supports the Barely Born Appeal and Sunday's show supports Earl Mountbatten Hospice. BORN TO SHOW
Fiona Collyer, Business Manager/Fundraiser NICU.
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