PIP PIP Hurray!

News release

10th December 2013

Poorly babies in need of specialist care at the neonatal unit at Lincoln County Hospital will soon get extra help thanks to PIP Lettings.

The property agent, based onDoddington RoadinLincoln, has named the unit, which cares for babies born prematurely and in need of specialist care and attention, as its Charity of the Year for 2014.

Dad-of-three Michael Hollamby runs PIP Lettings with wife Katie, said: “As a father, I know that all you want is a healthy and happy baby, but sadly some parents don’t have that joy when their baby is first born.

“We know how hard the staff on the neonatal unit work, and the support and care offered through the service helps people through what can be an incredibly difficult time.  As a family-run firm we wanted to find a cause we could support which meant something to us – this is the perfect fit. 

“The unit will have our support throughout 2014, and I’m going to kick off the fundraising early as they’ve already told me about some things they are in need of.”

The neonatal unit atLincolnCountyHospitalis called Nocton Ward, and is part of the wider Neonatal Service at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT).  PIP’s first fundraising target is £3,360 to buy equipment which will upgrade 12 breast pumps used by mums with babies on the unit.  

The upgrades will help increase the amount of milk the new mums are able to pump, giving their little one a better chance at fighting infections and developing into a strong and happy baby.

There are six pumps used on Nocton Ward and a further six on the transitional homecare unit, which is where babies move to when they are well enough to leave the neonatal unit but still in need of hospital care. Each upgrade costs £280.

Krystina Alex, Neonatal Nurse Consultant at Nocton Ward, said: “We are thrilled to have the support of PIP Lettings this year. The first bit of fundraising they are doing for is for vital equipment which can make a real difference to the health and progress of our babies.

“Increasing the amount of breast milk mums can pump means that a premature baby has a better chance of getting well and being allowed home. Breast milk also reduces the risk of neonatal babies developing serious conditions or needing to be re-admitted to hospital, and it improves their development in general.”

Future fundraising projects include changing the existing light switches on the ward for dimmer switches so that the lights can be dimmed at night, adding signage to make the unit more welcoming and creating art displays throughout the unit.

PIP Lettings has previously supported other charities including Matt’s Fund, the Ally Cadence Trust and the Nomad Trust. Any money he now raises will be donated to the neonatal unit’s charity Babies. 

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• Michael and Katie Hollamby set up PIP Lettings in May 2008 and are now based on Doddington Road.
• PIP Lettings mostly covers theLincolnarea within a 15-mile radius, but the agency also looks after and rents properties inGrimsby, Gainsborough and Grantham.
• PIP offers flexible hours, working both evenings and weekends to provide tenants and landlords with viewings and valuations.

About the Neonatal Service:

• The Neonatal Service at ULHT comprises Nocton ward, which is the neonatal unit, transitional care/homecare, where babies have higher needs than a well baby on the maternity unit but are not sick enough to require admission to Nocton ward, and a neonatal unit at BostonPilgrimHospital.
• Nocton Ward Neonatal Unit has 20 beds and includes a mixture of special care cots, high-dependency cots and intensive care cots.
• Transitional care has eight beds and a homecare service.

Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07985 143990
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @CerriDelaney

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