On World Prematurity Day this year, we’d like to thank New Life for helping us acquire vital equipment for Northwick Park Hospital’s Neonatal Unit and making a difference to over 100 families so far.

Each year in the UK, around 1 in 10 babies are admitted to neonatal units, having been born sick or premature. At Northwick Park Hospital (NPH) alone, more than 250 premature babies are born and treated at our Neonatal Unit (NNU) every year.

Having a sick new-born or a premature baby that requires around-the-clock intensive care can be a stressful and emotional time for parents. Being admitted in a highly-technical environment can also be an intimidating experience for parents who may feel that they are restricted to touch, hold and comfort their babies.

Mothers would use breast pumps at our NNU, in our designated breast milk pumping room. Understandably, they would prefer to express by their babies’ incubators/cot-side. Unfortunately, our NNU were unable to accommodate this due to the limited amount of breast pumps available.

New Life is a charity dedicated to providing grants for hospitals to purchase vital equipment for special care baby units. Thanks to New Life’s wonderful £9,722.23 donation, we were able to purchase seven extra hospital-graded breast pumps and this has enabled more mothers at our NNU to express “bedside”, i.e. in their beds, beside their babies’ cots.

We cannot thank New Life enough for the amazing support they have shown towards our tiniest patients. Truthfully, we could not do this without our donors and supporters! We, and those we serve, sincerely appreciate your generosity.