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Warrington Hospital Neo Natal Unit treats an average of 270 pre-term and seriously ill babies each year. Most babies will need to be cared for in incubators initially. Once the baby is well enough to be taken out of the incubator a cot is used, and the baby will then remain on the Neo Natal Unit for some time while the medical team ensure that the baby is breathing and feeding successfully, and is ready to go home.

For many parents, this provides the first opportunity to handle and care for their baby. For the first several months of life they must rely on trained nursing staff to change nappies and wash the baby. It is therefore important that parents gain confidence and necessary skills, particularly if the baby has specific health needs.

At present the unit has fixed height cots for babies who have come out of incubators. We have pledged to replace all 12 cots currently in use. These replacement models will allow parents with disabilities, and mothers who have had Caesarean sections to care for their own babies without having to ask for help. This will greatly increase confidence in their own parenting abilities and improve the bond with the baby. Another advantage of the new model is that it allows nursing procedures to be carried out more easily, and improves the level of care received by the baby.

Each cot will cost £1,435 and we have agreed to fund six. We have already purchased three, and we need £4,305 for the remaining three. As a charity we do not pay VAT on medical items.