This spring, a new chapter begins for families in Dorset and the surrounding areas as University Hospitals Dorset’s Maternity Unit moves into the incredible BEACH Building at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
Welcoming a new baby into the world is an exhilarating yet sometimes overwhelming experience for those taking the first steps into parenthood. As part of The BEACH Appeal, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity is fundraising to transform this state-of-the-art facility into a sanctuary where families can welcome their newborn babies in a warm environment that goes above and beyond standard NHS provision.
Imagine eagerly awaiting a new arrival in comfortable and enriching spaces; a warmed blanket wrapped around a baby taking their first breaths; and soft ambient lighting surrounding parents and newborns experiencing those crucial bonding moments together.
But this vision where every baby gets the most comfortable start in life needs a community to back it.
University Hospitals Dorset’s head of midwifery and neonatal services, Kerry Taylor, said: “We recognise that stepping through our doors can feel like embarking on a journey into the unknown. Each family’s path is unique and filled with its own challenges and joys. We’re here to support them every step of the way, ensuring that they never feel alone during this significant chapter of their life.”
University Hospitals Dorset’s senior matron of outpatient services, Akeisha Robinson, said: “Sadly, unnatural lighting affects our newborns, causing them to keep their tiny eyes tightly shut, hindering those precious bonding moments with their parents.”
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity is calling on the community to help raise in the region of £100,000 needed to provide these extra items to enhance the new Maternity Unit for every baby and family. This support will provide blanket warmers, mood lighting, birthing slings, meaningful items to comfort parents spending extra time while their baby is cared for on the new level 2 neonatal (NICU) centre and more.
Every contribution to The BEACH Appeal makes a tangible difference for each baby born at the BEACH and their families as they embark on a new remarkable journey. Visit University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity’s website to discover how support for The BEACH Appeal today nurtures new beginnings for generations to come: https://www.uhdcharity.org/current-projects/maternity/