Donated chairs help new parents
Date of release: 19 July 2024
Specialist chairs designed to help new parents feel more comfortable when feeding or caring for their new babies have been donated to Wolverhampton’s Neonatal Ward.
A total of 12 chairs – six electric and six manual – costing £48,000, have been bought by The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity for New Cross Hospital’s Neonatal Unit.
Sarah Crowshaw, Neonatal Ward Manager, said the chairs were a huge upgrade on what was available previously.
She said: “The chairs supplied by the NHS are hard and very upright. The new ones we have had donated by the charity are so much better.
“A lot of parents like to sleep at the baby’s bedside and can do so in these chairs as they fully recline, so can be used 24 hours if parents wish to.
“They also help with the feeding of the babies and are specially designed to make this easier for the parents.”
One of the first mums on the ward to use the new chair was 45-year-old Lucy Gould.
The full-time mum of two from Bridgnorth, gave birth to baby Lenny Mitchell-Gould on 8 May at 32 weeks plus 2 days. He weighed 4 pounds and 4 ounces.
She said: “I think the new chairs are absolutely brilliant. I had a joke going with the other women that I was like a sales rep for them I was singing their praises so much.
“I spent hours and hours on the unit and this chair made my stay a lot more comfortable.
“I had a C section so the fact there is a remote control to recline the chair really helped.
“It is just another part of the amazing care I received. I am so grateful to the staff and the unit.”
Amie Rogers, Fundraising and Lead Digital Engagement Officer, said: “We were thrilled to provide the chairs to the Neonatal department to enhance the environment and support given to new mums during their stay on the unit.
“Thank you so much to everyone who donates and supports our charity – it is because of you we are able to make these amazing donations which really lift our patient’s spirits.”
ENDS
- For further information, please email amy.downward@nhs.net
