5 March 2019

Special care ‘baby’ returns with dad to donate money

A Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) patient of 14 years ago has returned to the unit with his dad, to donate money on behalf of a local Masons Lodge.

Louie Hammond was born nine weeks early in 2004, and spent the early weeks of his life in the SCBU at Conquest Hospital. His Dad, Paul Hammond, Master of St. Leonards Lodge St Michael, raised £365 at a recent event and returned to donate the money to nursing staff.

Louie Hammond with his dad Paul Hammond, Master of St Leonards Lodge St Michael with the SBCU Team

Louie Hammond with his dad Paul Hammond, Master of St Leonards Lodge St Michael with the SBCU Team

Wendy Thompsett, Special Care Baby Unit Matron said: “We would like to thank St. Leonards Lodge St Michael for donating this money which will go towards some new equipment for the unit. It was great to see an ‘ex-patient’ of ours, Louie, return to the unit. He has clearly thrived since leaving the SCBU all those years ago.”

The Special Care Baby Unit cares for up to 12 premature babies of 31 weeks gestation and above, along with babies requiring more care than that which can be provided by the mother with the support of a Midwife. This care may include:

• Feeding using a nasogastric tube
• Oxygen therapy
• Intravenous fluids
• Phototherapy
• Continuous physiological monitoring
• Withdrawal from opiates (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)