Winter wonderland ball is coming to Bradford

Tickets are selling fast for the first ever Bradford Neonatal Ball on Saturday 24 November!

The winter wonderland themed ball promises to be a sparkling event to celebrate past and present parents and their babies of Bradford’s Neonatal Unit. The glamorous event will also pay tribute to the dedicated staff who have made it the award-winning, world-class service it is today.

The ball will raise money for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity’s Neonatal Unit Fund, which pays for equipment and essential extras which are over and above what the NHS provides, but which make life that much easier for parents and siblings who spend hours on end in the unit with their premature or sick babies.

Neonatal Sister Andrea Firth, who is organising the ball, said: “The ball will be a sparkling tribute to everyone involved in the unit, as well as our parents and babies who make everything we do worthwhile.

“I’m overwhelmed by the support I have had from parents, doctors and nurses who have bought tickets, and incredibly grateful to the local businesses in Bradford for their support through sponsorship. Parents and staff are very much part of one team in the Neonatal Unit and this event will celebrate that, while raising money to help parents of the future.”

The Bradford Neonatal Unit cares for around 500 premature and sick babies every year. Approximately one baby in 10 requires admission to the unit, which takes babies from all over the Yorkshire and Humber region. Staff provide intensive care treatments to babies born as early as 23 weeks.

Hayley Collis, head of fundraising for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, said: “This will be a beautiful celebration of the Neonatal Unit. We are extremely grateful for everyone’s support in raising money for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity. The money will be used to benefit babies and their families on the unit.”

The ball will take place at Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford on Saturday 24 November. Tickets cost £45 and dress code is black tie. Anyone wishing to purchase a ticket or sponsor the event should email [email protected]

To find out more about Bradford Hospitals’ Charity and how you can support your local hospitals, visit www.bradfordhospitalscharity.org. Alternatively, contact Hayley Collis or Elaine Drake on 01274 274809 or email [email protected]

To make a donation to Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, text BHCF22 and the amount you want to donate to 70070. Alternatively, visit www.justgiving.com/bradfordteachinghospital.

ENDS…

 Note to Editors:

  • Earlier this year, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), based at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI), part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, became the first NICU (level 3) in the UK to achieve ‘Baby Friendly’ accreditation from children’s charity Unicef and the World Health Organisation.

The Baby Friendly initiative is a global programme which provides a practical and effective way for health services to improve the care provided for mothers and babies and help them build close and loving relationships with their baby.

To meet the standards, the unit was judged against a set of criteria focusing on parents’ experiences of neonatal services at BRI during a visit by assessors in December 2017.

  • Bradford Hospitals’ Charity is one of more than 250 NHS charities based around the UK. It supports the strategic direction of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust by funding projects which go over and above what he NHS provides.
  • Last year, a new £28million wing opened at Bradford Royal Infirmary, which was part of a £75m investment to improve patient care across our hospitals. It provides world-class facilities for the elderly, children and a brand new intensive care unit. Bradford Hospitals’ Charity provided £260,000 to enable the Trust to create family friendly environments, state-of-the-art equipment and innovative distraction toys and games for young people.
  • With the support of Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, BTHFT was also able to provide more cots, including intensive care and high dependency cots, new family accommodation, a revamped counselling suite and a dedicated room for mothers to express milk for pre-term babies when the new neonatal unit opened in 2015.

For further media information, please contact Kelly Thornham, Communications Officer, at [email protected] or call 01274 382265

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