Members of the Paediatric Healthcare Team at Hull Royal Infirmary have received a financial boost to help babies and children in need of special care.

The Society of MICE*, a group of Hull-based artists involved in the entertainment industry, have passed £14,000 to the Paediatric High Dependency Unit (PHDU) at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to purchase specialist equipment including a ventilator.

The money was raised through entertainment events and afternoon teas, and the PHDU was nominated to receive the funds by Peter Briggs, King of the Society for 2015/16. Peter says:

“The Society’s members elect a new King every February, and one of their roles is to choose a charity or specialist project for the year which will benefit from the Society’s fundraising.

“In my role as King last year, I chose the Paediatric High Dependency Unit, having supported the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in my previous term as King a few years ago. During this time, I was able to speak with staff and see the good work carried out in the hospital, and as my wife is a child minder, I know that young people often need a bit of help, so this felt like a very worthwhile cause.”

Alan Brattan is the Chair of the hospital’s Family Involvement Group which sees families and hospital staff working together to deliver great care to children and their loved ones. He says:

“As part of the Family Involvement Group to the PHDU at Hull Royal Infirmary, we are very grateful indeed for this significant donation from the MICE charity.

“Their members have devoted their spare time and resources to collecting this money in order to benefit the very sick children who pass through this ward, and the donation will now help to buy equipment which will further improve the care they receive.”

Dr Hilary Klonin, Consultant Neonatologist at the Trust, says:

“This state of the art equipment will keep children comfortable and safe when they have breathing difficulties. Non-invasive ventilation helps to stabilise children and can enable them to safely remain in local care, in some cases even helping them recover from their illness faster and more fully.
“We are very grateful to the Family Involvement Group, The Society of MICE and Hayek Charitable Foundation for their support in getting the equipment to us.”