Mother Praises New £10M Special Baby Care Unit at Princess Anne Hospital

A mother, who experienced labor at 28 weeks, has expressed commendation for the recently inaugurated £10 million special baby care unit where she delivered her child. Chloe, 31, from Southampton, stated that the facility at the Princess Anne Hospital is expected to “make such a big difference to families like us”. The unit provided care for her son, Willis, who, according to Chloe, had experienced “quite a journey through the neonatal unit” but is currently recovering well. Chloe remarked, “We’ve had a few ups and downs but the staff here have been nothing short of amazing.” The University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust launched the new baby care unit, officially named Woodlands Ward, on 25 November. Situated within the Princess Anne—a maternity unit under the trust’s umbrella—this facility is purposed for the care of infants born after more than 32 weeks of gestation and weighing a minimum of 1.5kg, functioning as an intermediate care stage following the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This expansion has augmented the overall neonatal service capacity by five spaces and additionally allows parents to reside overnight in one of the four family integrated care rooms. Chloe stated: “It was obviously a very worrying time not knowing what the outcome would be for Willis.” She further added: “We were so happy when he ‘graduated’ to the special care ward, as we knew that was a sign he was getting better and closer to coming home.” She described the Woodlands Ward as “a lovely space” possessing “a very calming and peaceful atmosphere, and although it is clinical, it feels homely enough to help you feel more relaxed”. Willis has now reached 70 days of age, is capable of regulating his own body temperature, and can be cared for in a cot. Chloe affirmed, “[He] is now doing really well.” She concluded, “We feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful hospital on our doorstep with the most amazing and dedicated staff to help see you through difficult times.” Readers can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding the BBC’s approach to external linking is available.