Mansfield funeral home wants your wool to help neo-natal units at hospitals

The funeral home, based on Rosemary Street, is leading the initiative of creating clothing and blankets for neo-natal babies at Kingsmill Hospital and Nottingham City Hospital.

The campaign, which was launched in November, has already seen more than four boxes of knitwear donated to hospitals in the local area.

Staff working at the home have been funding the creation of the clothing and blankets out of their own pockets, and are now keen to secure donations of more much-needed wool.

David Lee, funeral director, said: ‘’We have a close relationship with both hospitals and know what a big difference the clothes and blankets make to neo-natal babies.

“Our manager Helen Stapleton’s mother has been working extremely hard to get the clothing made, giving up her spare time to knit the items.

“We are extremely grateful to anyone who has already donated, and we urge the local community to bring any wool to our funeral home so more babies can benefit from them.”

Neo-natal services are a vital section of hospital services.

At Kings Mill, the department provides care to infants older than 26 weeks and six days gestation, as well as providing neo-natal follow up and clinics for children under 18 months in a designated baby clinic.

The hospital currently has an 18-bed neonatal unit with facility for three intensive care cots and a further four cots available for high dependency care.

Nottingham City Hospital is home to the neo-natal intensive care unit, which provides respiratory support, additional support due to low birth weight of less than one kilogram and are born at less than 28 weeks gestation, support due to severe respiratory disease and surgery.

Both hospitals provide care for the smallest and most vulnerable of patients and the Co-op’s wool donation campaign helps to provide vital support.

For further information, call 01623 627701 or visit www.co-operativefuneralcare.co.uk.