“Each baby is a going concern. In each baby there is a vital spark and this urge towards life, growth and development is a part of the baby, something the child is born with”

Sometimes, however, this spark needs a helping hand if it is not to be extinguished.

Each year, The Winnicott Baby Unit at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, admits over 300 critically ill and premature babies from hospitals all over England and Wales. We specialise in early intervention techniques, also known as Developmental Care, aiming to give each fragile baby the best chance of survival without long term complications. As such, we have appointed the UK’s first Consultant therapist in this field. Developmental Care champions a more compassionate, family centred approach to neonatal care. This includes therapies such as positive touch and massage, complementing the highest level medical care.

We have introduced gentler forms of ventilation, known as SiPAP, into the UK. And we have expertise in infection and inflammation. Our consultant staff are regularly invited to train developing nations in modern ventilation techniques. We are part of a world class academic departments of paediatrics and we are supported by a highly skilled and motivated team of doctors, nurses and auxiliary staff.

The Unit could never have achieved all this without the generous support and kindness of the public they serve. The Winnicott Foundation is a registered charity originally formed by parents whose children owe their lives to the Unit. Nearly all our life-saving machines and monitors have been funded by the Foundation. So why do we need more? At present, we turn away more than 300 babies a year, all in vital need of support, due to lack of space and resources. Meanwhile, an intensive care cot space costs us £1,250 per day to run, a ventilator costs £20,000 and a Giraffe incubator costs £25,000. It costs St Mary’s £3.5 million to run this unit each year and less than two thirds of this is funded centrally. Some of the shortfall is made up through the generosity of donors.

And it does not end there, such generosity benefits children far beyond the confines of the Winnicott Baby Unit. We are immensely proud that we are able to share our specialist knowledge and our developmental care programme with hospitals around the country so that every baby in the UK can benefit.

Karena Ghaus, Consultant Neonatologist, Winnicott Baby Unit

Location:

Winnicott Baby Unit
3rd Floor
Clarence Memorial Wing
St Mary’s Hospital
Praed Street
Paddington
London W2 1NY

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7886 6666