NEW MUMS at the Worcestershire Royal will be able to keep a watchful eye over their newborn babies after county-based charity Libby Mae’s Little Angels bought and supplied the neo-natal ward with iPads.
Because the ward, which provides additional medical support for premature babies, needs to be kept sterile, visiting is often restricted and, in some cases, babies are transferred to other specialist units for care.
The tablet computers will enable mums and dads to FaceTime or Skype with nurses in the unit so they can keep an eye on their babies around the clock.
Other family members, such as siblings and grandparents, will also be able to use the iPads to see the babies.
Libby Mae’s Little Angels was founded by husband and wife Richard and Charlotte Sharratt in memory of their newborn baby girl Libby Mae.
She was born with a heart condition in 2013 and was rushed into neo-natal support. Despite round the clock care she sadly lost her brave fight for life at just two weeks old.
Richard and Charlotte have since worked tirelessly to help save the lives of premature babies by fundraising for 19 neonatal units across the Midlands.
The couple, now proud parents to a baby son Riley, and their team of supporters strive to raise funds to supply everything from life-saving equipment to basics such as comfortable chairs.
Charlotte said: “When your newborn baby is in an incubator it is very difficult to get much quality time and even more so for the extended family such as siblings or grandparents.
“The iPads mean families can now be connected at all times which can be so reassuring especially when families are torn apart by the baby being hospitalised at a time when being together can be so important.”
Richard said “Sometimes sadly a baby has to be rushed to another hospital with more specialist equipment and the parents cannot join the baby straight away.
“The iPad at least means nurses can keep parents updated and allow them to feel connected even if it is from afar.”
The iPads have been specially fitted with Libby Mae cases and a link to the charity homepage so families can also have support and information at their fingertips and they have been fitted with a security service which instantly renders them useless if they are taken off the wards.
Richard added: “By using technology we hope to make those difficult first few weeks for new parents a little easier.
“Nothing beats being with your child but at least this helps in some small way and we hope to roll it out to other hospitals in due course.”
