The Neonatal Unit at DGRI received a 15K donation funding specialist equipment to be used in the community to minimise and prevent hospital visits and admissions for newborn babies.
Ryan and Becky Muir were delighted to know that their efforts with a charity tractor run, hugely supported by people across the region, would make such a difference for babies, their families, and the staff who provide the specialist care they need.
The couple whose daughter was born nine weeks early and their niece thirteen weeks early, wanted to thank the staff at the unit who looked after them, and to help other babies born prematurely, as well as their families. They set about organising a charity tractor run in 2020 to raise money for a donation for the unit and went on to make it an annual event.
The specialist equipment is used to check jaundice levels in newborn babies. It is the same as the equipment already used in the hospital in the region, but will be used specifically by community midwives when carrying out their checks on newborn babies at home. For babies with jaundice this means many may not have to be readmitted to hospital and can remain with their families at home, and hopefully require less hospital visits to be treated.
Ryan Muir (also on behalf of Becky) said:“Our daughter and our niece were born prematurely so giving something back to the Neonatal Unit means a lot to us as they go above and beyond to help not just the babies but their families too. We also want to help babies born early and their families as we remember what a really hard time it was for us.
“We would like to say a big thank you to our family, friends, and so many people who supported the charity tractor run, and of course for all contributions to the huge sum of 15K we raised.”
Lyn Durrant, General Manager at Women and Children’s Services, NHS D&G, said:
“This donation of such a significant sum, gratefully received, has allowed us to purchase specialist equipment for community midwives when they are providing care for newborn babies at home. This means more newborn babies stay at home and can be treated for jaundice with less visits to hospital, and preventing hospital admission for some. This is of course is better for baby and for their family.
“This is also a boost for community midwives as it enhances the care they can deliver at home, and for the staff at the hospital knowing these babies don’t need to be admitted when they could be treated at home.”
Nick Mitchell, Charity Operational Manager for NHS D&G Endowment Fund, said:
“This effort by Ryan and Becky Muir for the third year running raising money for the Neonatal Unit at DGRI is remarkable and greatly appreciated.
“It is also a reflection of the generosity of so many people in the region who donated money and contributed to the overall sum of 15K.”
