L&D NICU APPEAL   
               One in ten babies requires specialist care when they are born

Every year the Luton & Dunstable Hospital’s (L&D) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) treats over 600 premature and critically ill full-term babies.  We offer the highest level of neonatal intensive care possible and are one of only three high-level neonatal units in the East of England.

Because of this and an increasing birth rate, demand for our specialist services has significantly outstripped resources and we currently have to turn away around 20 request for a cot each month as the Unit is completely full.

The original neonatal unit at the L&D was built over 30 years ago and was so successful that in 1998 it was upgraded to provide a total of 20 cots.  NICU services are constantly responding to adcvances and developments in treatment techniques and technology - saving more lives and giving better outcomes for babies, even if they are born extremely prematurely. 

Recognising that our NICU offers such a critical facility, the L&D has managed to squeeze an extra nine cots into the unit giving a total of 29.  Although these extra cots were essential, the Unit is now so cramped that there is very little space between each of the cots making it difficult for staff to treat the babies and for parents to stay by their sides.  There is also no storage area for all the equipment to be kept and maintained. 

We are therefore planning to create a brand new NICU which will enable us to care for many more of the premature and sick babies born across Luton, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

This new state-of-the-art facility will feature leading edge technology and accommodate 46 cots.  It will also include much needed facilities for parents who want to stay close to their baby, including overnight accommodation, a breast-feeding room and two family rooms.  This will allow the NICU team to support parents more effectively whilst their baby is sick and also when preparing them to take their baby home.

The NHS has allocated £7 million to pay for the new building and will also fund all the additional staffing and running costs for the new Unit.  But in order to ensure that babies can be treated in the best possible environment and with the best possible equipment, we are launching the NICU Appeal to raise essential funds to buy additional equipment to go in the new Unit.
 
We need your help to raise £1.5 million to purchase new medical equipment

The new NICU, with all it’s specialist equipment, will enable us to treat around 300 more babies each year and save even more precious lives.  Your support will make a huge difference and we would like to thank you very much for your donation.

If you would like more information about the Appeal, or would like to discuss fundraising ideas, please contact Sarah Newby on 01582 718 043 or sarah.newby@ldh.nhs.uk or visit our website www.ldh.nhs.uk/fundraising

Sarah Newby (Fundraising Manager)
01582 718 043                                                                                   sarah.newby@ldh.nhs.uk

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