Hello!

I am Consultant Neonatologist and Clinical Lead of the Neonatal Department at Liverpool Women’s Hospital and this year I’m putting my size 9 feet to a new challenge dancing in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ to use to raise money for the families we look after.

Liverpool Women’s Hospital is the regional neonatal unit for Cheshire and Mersey. It has cots for to care for up to 44 of the smallest and sickest babies in the country. We provide a state-of-the art facility to provide world class neonatal care for around 1200 babies and their families each year.

The neonatal team is comprised of over 300 skilled and dedicated team members. We put the babies and their families at the centre of the care that we deliver in both some of the most joyful, but also the most heartbreaking times, with a resolve to make whatever times they have together as positive and precious as possible. Our team provides care for babies and their families from 22 weeks gestation (18 weeks before they were expected to be born), some of whom weigh less that 500g. In addition to caring for babies born early, we care for babies who have health challenges identified before birth. This includes babies who will go on to need surgery – including heart and brain surgery – at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. It also includes babies who are known to have life-limiting medical conditions.

Liverpool Women’s Hospital NICU is a place that is filled with hope. The babies are some of the most courageous and tenacious human beings, loved beyond measure by families who may experience uncertainty, fear and loss. Our approach is built on the foundations of ‘Family Integrated Care’ which promotes a partnership between parents and staff, enabling parents to become confident, knowledgeable and independent caregivers.

Miracle Babies: this is what brave looks like.