UK hospital coffee lounge manager starts meal voucher program for NICU families

A former NICU mom's experience led her to establish a new partnership in giving free meal vouchers to NICU families in a United Kingdom (UK) hospital.

Key Takeaways:

• The manager of the Volunteer Coffee Lounge at James Cook NHS Hospital went into labor and delivered her son 10 weeks premature.

• The experience prompted her to create a meal voucher program allowing families of babies in the NICU to be taken care of while their infants are in the hospital.

• Parents will be able to receive meals from the hospital at no extra charge, without having to leave their children.

The Backstory:

Georgina Oakley is the manager of The Volunteers’ Coffee Lounge at James Cook NHS Hospital in Middlesbrough. Though she was familiar with the hospital, it took on a new meaning when she had a premature baby in 2002. After being born at 30 weeks via emergency c-section, he spent a month in the NICU.

“To say I was in a state of disbelief is an understatement," she said in a hospital press release. “We were extremely lucky George had no major issues, but being tube-fed was daunting. My memories of the unit are of the outstanding care we received."

The experience led her to create the meal voucher program at the hospital. "I hope offering a helping hand shows these families they aren’t alone," she said.

One Of The World’s Youngest Babies To Survive

The Details:

Oakley noticed that NICU parents sometimes don't have the time (or the will) to take care of themselves while focused on their premature babies. Additionally, there is the issue of cost; according to BLISS, a UK charity dedicated to helping families with premature or sick infants, NICU stays can cost families an extra £405 per week.

So she decided to do something about it, creating a meal voucher program allowing parents to stay with their children and still receive nourishment, without extra financial burden.

After moms are discharged from the hospital, they no longer receive meals, even though they often remain in the hospital at their infants' bedsides. The meal voucher program, which is funded through donations, means there is one less worry for these families.

“We are so grateful to Georgina and the Volunteers’ Coffee Lounge team," Lynne Paterson, a nurse consultant, said. “These vouchers provide a well-deserved break and ensure parents look after themselves during a difficult time. Thanks to the Volunteers’ Coffee Lounge, parents will have one less thing to worry about when they are already anxious about their baby. We can’t thank them enough for their generosity.”

The Bottom Line:

Parents with babies in the NICU need support, and programs like this one are vital in ensuring the focus can remain on the newborns fighting to survive.