Construction to double the size of the Rosie Hospital – recognised as one of the finest maternity hospitals in the country – is due for completion later this year. So ACT, the dedicated charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie Hospitals, has invited the whole community, including schools, to raise extra funds that will help to give babies born in Cambridge the best possible start in life.
With over 100,000 infants delivered at the Rosie since it opened in 1983, ACT is calling on children and young people at local schools, nurseries and colleges to get involved to support the hospital where they were born.
Leading the way, the Perse Prep School pioneered the sale of Rosie Campaign wristbands as part of a non-school uniform day. Gareth Jones, Head of the Perse Prep School, said: “As a local resident, I am very grateful that we have such excellent hospitals in Cambridge. Many of our parents work at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, and given that a large proportion of our pupils are Rosie babies, we feel indebted on so many levels. It feels appropriate to support an institution that continues to be at the forefront of medical progress and to play our part in helping it to grow for future generations.”
Elinor Schneider, a PA at the Perse Prep School, added: “I am delighted to be supporting the Rosie. During my recent pregnancy I took part in a research study focused on first-time mothers and small baby syndrome. It’s been fascinating and I’m so proud to be able to support the kind of research that will help future mothers with babies who might have a problem. And I’m so glad that the hospital is expanding to create the extra capacity it needs.”
Histon and Impington Infants School has been one of the first schools to request the new Rosie wristbands for sale. School Head, Mrs Joy Walker, said: “When we heard about the Big Push and the opportunities for schools, we were keen to get involved as many of our children were born at the Rosie. It ties in so nicely with our Early Years Curriculum, linking well to topics ‘About Ourselves’ and helps to give young children a sense of understanding about who they are. It has definitely captured the children’s interest. The wristbands look set to be a big hit and are on sale at the school reception desk.”
Trudy Harper, Community Fundraising Manager at ACT, said: “We have written to local schools inviting them to back the Big Push by selling Rosie wristbands, holding non-uniform days and giving enterprising pupils the chance to try their hand at fundraising. No doubt nurseries, schools and colleges will have plenty of their own ideas.”
She continued: “Fundraising for the Rosie is an ideal way to get children and young people of all ages involved with a worthwhile cause in their own community – and have some fun at the same time. We hope as many schools as possible will play a part – every penny of community funds will really help to make a difference to tiny newborns and their families.
There are plenty of easy ways for schools and colleges to back the Big Push:
· Stock and sell Rosie wristbands for a suggested £2 donation each
· Hold a non-school uniform day with a suggested small donation per pupil
· Come to school in fancy dress – maybe with a baby theme or as a childhood hero?
· Bring in a favourite baby picture and pay to play ‘guess who’ with the class
· Get young Masterchefs to cook up some tasty treats for a Big Rosie cake sale
· Sell refreshments and drinks at the next sports day or school performance
· Hold a table-top sale of unwanted CDs, DVDs, books and toys
· Decorate your bike or scooter and take it to school for the Big Push
· Do a sponsored walk, skip or run for the Rosie
· See how many young people you can get together for a sponsored Ring-a-Ring-a-Rosie
· Host a Big Push for the Rosie talent show.
To find out more about the Big Push for the Rosie Campaign, request wristbands, download a fundraising pack or discuss what you would like to do to help, please call Trudy Harper on 01223 217757 or go to: http://www.therosiecampaign.org.uk.
The Rosie is recognised as one of the finest maternity hospitals in the country. Supported by charitable funding, the original Rosie Hospital opened in 1983, since when much has changed. It was designed for approximately 4,000 births a year. In 2010-11 almost 5,800 babies were born at the Rosie and by 2020 that number is expected to increase to 7,500.
The new three-storey extension and modernisation programme will almost double the size of the existing maternity unit and mean the Rosie can continue to offer pregnant women, their partners and new babies the very best standard of care. Facilities will include:
· A brand new midwife-led birth centre with ten new en-suite rooms for women with a low risk pregnancy
· An expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with 58 cots for babies who are born early or in need of specialist attention
· A new residential centre with eight en-suite bedrooms, a rest area and kitchen. This will be available for parents that have babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
· A new Fetal Medicine and Day Assessment Unit for monitoring pregnant women and fetal development
· A dedicated counselling suite offering professional support when outcomes are not as planned.
For patients and staff these new world-class resources will make an enormous day-to-day difference. With extra space available, staff will be able to help more women give birth in the comfort of their local hospital. The transformed Rosie will be a regional centre of clinical excellence for training maternity, neonatal and gynaecological staff. Longer term it will also set new standards of care by advancing antenatal and neonatal development through research programmes.
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