At Salisbury District Hospital, 1 in 10 babies are born too small, too sick or too soon and therefore need additional care. The Neonatal Unit, which is also referred to as the NICU or Special Care Baby Unit, provides this to around 250 babies every year.
The Stars Appeal works to ensure that babies receive the best possible care using the most advanced equipment, whilst making sure their parents can stay alongside them in dedicated accommodation.
How the Stars Appeal makes a difference:
- Free accommodation and home comforts for families
- Advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment such as state-of-the-art incubators and dedicated ultrasound scanners
- Virtual visiting via secure video messaging
- Play facilities for siblings and outdoor space for parents
- Visits from hospital Chaplains
- Support for bereaved parents
- Free Wi-Fi
- Stars Appeal water cooler
- Laundry facilities for parents staying on the unit
- Complimentary teas, coffees and snacks in the parents’ kitchen
- Lullabies played by Stars Appeal Live musicians
- Aromatherapy from the Stars Appeal aromatherapist
- Specialist training and education for staff
- Supporting staff wellbeing and morale
Patient Story
“Because of you, we’re able to stay with our little girls whilst they’re in hospital”
“Our twin girls, Phoebe and Mia, were born 10 weeks early and needed intensive care on the Neonatal Unit. It was a real shock and we were so worried about them. We live in Tidworth and I can’t drive after having an emergency C-section. We thought we might have to leave our babies in hospital, which would have broken our hearts, but thanks to the Stars Appeal and the people who support the charity, we can stay right by their side in the Stars Appeal family accommodation.”
Rachel Dakin
“The Stars Appeal accommodating us has a massive impact on our lives. Instead of seeing our twin girls for just a couple of hours during visits, we’re able to be here with them every day until they’re ready to come home. The Stars Appeal has allowed me to support my family and look after my new-born daughters. They are also providing excellent equipment for Phoebe and Mia. Without all of this, we’d be apart from our babies and they’d be in hospital longer.”
Wyn Dakin