Hospital charity receives more than £22,000 to help appeal

The Health Tree Foundation – the official charity for Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust – has received a grant of £22,500.

The money will be used to boost the funds of the £150,000 maternity bereavement suite appeal at Scunthorpe General Hospital.

The suite will provide a safe haven on the central delivery suite for parents who experience the tragic loss of their baby. It will be away from other newborns and their families, providing a dedicated space for them to grieve. It will have its own bathroom, bedroom for parents to stay in along with a lounge area, a television and a kitchenette.

This latest donation to the Foundation’s appeal, which has been supported by Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy and his constituency and community officer Julie Reed, has seen the total rise to more than £134,000.The money has come from a bid the charity put into energy company SSE’s sustainable development fund.

Mr Percy said: “I’m delighted to have supported the Health Tree Foundation’s funding bid for the maternity bereavement suite. This extra money will prove useful in enabling the charity to reach its goal of raising £150,000 to build the unit. It is so important to have a separate area where families can grieve privately if they suffer the loss of a baby.”

Constituency and community officer Julie Reed said: “Working on Andrew’s behalf on community projects, I am delighted that £22,500 has been secured from the SSE sustainable development fund.  This project is so important for bereaved parents; it will provide a dedicated suite in the hospital for them to receive support.

HTF charity manager Victoria Winterton said: “We are so grateful to Andrew Percy, Julie Reed and the SSE fund for all their hard work towards this wonderful donation.

“This is a great example of people coming together across our community to make a difference. We are extremely thankful for this wonderful donation which will enable us to take the first step in making the suite become a reality.”

If you would like to make a donation to the appeal please visit:  https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/nlagcharitablefunds/maternitybereavementcampaign

For further  information about the appeal or how you can be get  involved  with helping, please contact HTF community champion Hayley Thompson on 03033 305672 or email: hayley.thompson3@nhs.net.