The heartwarming Croydon hospital upgrade making a 'big difference' for premature babies

A new upgrade at a Croydon hospital means that premature babies are better supported through when they arrive early. Earlier in November, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust’s maternity teams unveiled two larger cots that will enable twins to be nursed together in the same cot at Croydon University Hospital.

The cots will make a significant difference for families welcoming multiple children into the world. The cots have been shown to help babies stabilise their heart rates, allowing them to better regulate their body temperatures and meaning they stay close together, as they had been in the womb.

The cots were only able to be got thanks to a generous £3,885 donation from the Morrison’s Foundation, secured by Croydon Health Charity and the ongoing support from Ickle Pickles, a charity who support the UK’s smallest and sickest babies who need intensive care in neonatal units.

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Croydon Health Charity’s Director of Communications and Fundraising, Christina Clynes, said: “Following the birth of my twins here in Croydon in February 2023, they needed to be admitted to the hospital’s neonatal unit for additional support, which meant that they were separated from each other for the first time. Trying to care for two new babies, in two separate spaces, can be incredibly challenging as you have to move from bed to another and as a new parent of multiples, I know how important it is to keep little ones together whenever possible.

"Thankfully, 18 months later – and thanks to the fantastic care we received – they are both thriving! We are incredibly grateful to our Croydon Health Charity donors for their generosity and to Ickle Pickles for their continued support.”

Caroline Nyawira, Head of Maternity and Neonatal Transformation commented: "These new twin cots and enhanced facilities have already made such a big difference in the care we provide. We care for over 50 sets of twins every year, and we know that having them side by side makes it easier for patients to care for their new arrivals in the first few days, as well as offering additional health benefits.

“Most importantly, our priority is always to keep families together, and with the support of Croydon Health Charity and our donors, we are now better equipped to do just that.”

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