Grandma's big thank you to neonatal staff

ALL smiles . . . (from left) grandma Libby Woodcock with Lilly Worrall, consultant neonatologist Natasha Maddock, mum Lauren Flight with Millie Worrall, sister Caroline Looby and health care assistant James Antrobus

A GRANDMA has given staff at Royal Oldham Hospital a special thank you after her grand-daughters received "exceptional" care on the unit.

Premature twins Lilly and Millie Worrall were born at 29 weeks, weighing just over 2lbs each.

The sisters were immediately transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where they spent the next eight weeks.

Now six months old and weighing just over 10lbs, the twins have returned to their Shaw home and are doing well.

Grandma Libby Woodcock handed over a cheque for £1,370 to Natasha Maddock, consultant neonatologist at the unit, earlier this week as "a huge thank you" for the unit's support and dedication.

Mum Lauren Flight, from Shaw, said: "Once the twins were settled on NICU I was taken down to see them for the first time.

"It was a real shock seeing my babies hooked up to the machines and monitors. They looked so fragile.

"The staff on the unit were fantastic. They were supportive throughout, providing explanations as to what was happening and offering support and reassurance."

Libby, who is also clinical engagement manager at the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which oversees Royal Oldham, spent November fundraising for the unit.

Alongside her training team she sold raffle tickets and cupcakes for four weeks and visited the trust's four hospitals to raise awareness.

She said: "I wanted to raise money for the neonatal unit and felt it appropriate to link the fundraising with World Prematurity Day on November 17.

"I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the dedicated care and support provided by the staff on the unit.

"It was a very anxious time for us all and they were exceptional."

Twins Lilly and Millie were born on June 16 on the NICU which opened four years ago as part of Royal Oldham's £44million women and children's investment.

The hospital is celebrating the four-year anniversary of the opening of its new unit, which includes antenatal wards, labour delivery rooms and a midwife-led birth centre.

Libby extended her thanks to all of the staff who cared and supported her grand-daughters, who also wished everyone "a very merry Christmas".

Helen Howard, divisional director of midwifery at the trust said: "We are extremely grateful to Libby for her overwhelming gesture to the neonatal unit.

"The unit strives to provide outstanding care for the babies and families in our care and it is super for the staff in the unit to be recognised for their dedication and hard work.

"We are delighted to hear Lilly and Millie are doing so well."