This year, Heartlands Hospital Charity has pledged to raise an astonishing £150,000 for our Incubator appeal, helping to fund seven brand new state-of-the-art incubators for the Neonatal Unit.

Each year, approximately 11,000 babies are born at Heartlands Hospital and Good Hope Hospital, and over 800 of these babies will require the support of the Neonatal Unit. The unit provides care for newborn babies and offers a welcoming and friendly environment for parents and families in their time of need.

Some babies are born up to four months early and can weigh as little as one pound. These tiny babies require intensive care and support and are cared for around the clock.
Heartlands Hospital Charity is proud to support the incredible work of the staff on the unit by providing the very best equipment possible, helping them to care for the vulnerable newborns on the unit.

After hearing about this incredible appeal, Gerry and Pauline Smith were inspired to help. The donation of £50,000 was kindly provided from the Alan Miller Charitable Trust, the trust was set up when Gerry and Pauline's friend, Alan Miller passed away. Alan left a large sum of money to charity in his will in which Gerry and Pauline were named the executors of, distributing the money in his memory. The pair were informed about the appeal by their granddaughter, Lucy, a nurse on the Neonatal Unit.

The money from the trust has helped to fund two incubators as well as two Mamaroo Bouncers which are little chairs that bounce/rock babies to help comfort them, and an Apnoea monitor that tracks the babies heart and breathing rate. They have also donated an additional £1,000 to the Paediatric Immunology Department to fund handheld games consoles for children who are waiting for treatment.

Gerry and Pauline who live in Dorset came up to Heartlands Hospital Charity for the cheque presentation on behalf of their late friend, Alan and saw the first of the incubators in action. Before leaving, they were also given a thank you card from a family of the first baby to use the incubator.

Sian Averill, Fundraising Manager at Heartlands Hospital Charity said: "A huge thank you goes to the Alan Miller Charitable Trust for donating such a large sum of money to help support the many of vulnerable babies that are born each and every year at Heartlands Hospital. This has provided vital equipment that is 'over and above' what that NHS can fund, thank you!"

If you would like to help support the Incubator Appeal, please visit: hospitalcharity.org/incubators

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