Parent rooms upgraded

LEIGH Woodman receives a thank you from Palmerston North Hospital staff nurse Melissa Woodd. PHOTO: ALECIA ROUSSEAU

Families in Palmerston North Hospital's neonatal unit will have additional support during their stay thanks to a spruce up of the parent rooms.

After a plea from staff nurse Melissa Woodd, community members rallied around to donate the necessary items.

The dropoffs and pickups were co-ordinated by Kind Hearts founder and director Leigh Woodman.

"This is an opportunity to thank all those who helped ... business, staff and parents," Ms Woodd said. "However, this is also an opportunity to thank Leigh for all her hard work.

"She is an inspiration to our nurses, bringing baking everyday to the parents' unit and topping up the snacks or care packs. It's immeasurable the difference a muesli bar makes at 11pm at night when you have a two-year-old crying and a baby in neonates."

The four parent rooms were renovated to include more comfortable mattresses, a television, side table, cabinet, fridge and mirror. The shower heads were also replaced with ones more accessible for women who are breastfeeding or need extra care after giving birth.

Outside the four rooms is also a library donated by Kind Hearts.

"We have families who stay anywhere from two days, up to three or four weeks," Ms Woodd said. "The rooms were in desperate need."

Mrs Woodman said several local companies and families quickly got on board, including Atkins and Associates, Levin Childbirth Education, Noel Leeming, The Kairanga Lions, Darrin Woodd, Plumbing Depot, Touchwood, Baby Kate Rowe and Sheridan Jacob and Ellie McIssac.

"They allowed us to tick everything off our wish list," she said. "We also got the bright red shelving up for the Kind Hearts' library ... it's all about doing what we can to make it as comfortable as possible."

Ms Woodd said no one could understand the difference Kind Hearts has made to the unit.

"Our rooms are usually 80 per cent of the time full, and we often have people waiting to come in. These families can stay for a while ... now the rooms don't feel like you're staying in a hospital."

Mike Atkins said he and his father were happy to help with the revamp. Mr Atkins' son Harrison was in the neonatal unit for 60 days after he was born at 28 weeks' gestation.

"The staff here were all really incredible. The snacks from Kind Hearts made a difference ... it was actually something to look forward to in the middle of the night. These things give the unit that special homely touch."