Medics look after babies and we support parents ; IN THE FOURTH OF OUR SERIES ON LEICESTER'S NEONATAL TEAM, HEALTH CORRESPONDENT CATHY BUSS HEARS ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE POORLY BABIES' PARENTS
While doctors and nurses at the neonatal unit focus their attention on the medical needs of the tiny patients, there is also someone looking out for the parents.
Lesley Meachem has been a family support worker for about six years - first at Leicester Royal Infirmary and now at Leicester General Hospital.
She is one of three people whose job is to give help and support to the parents of some of the 1,000-plus babies who are born prematurely or need specialist care each year at Leicester's hospitals.
It is a part-time job and she is paid by the Leicestershire charity Adapt.
Lesley said: "I love it. I love talking to the parents and helping them.
SPECIAL CARE "The medical team is there for the baby but I am there for the parents. "There are three of us who are family support workers. I am based in the special care baby unit at Leicester General Hospital, while there is a colleague at Leicester Royal Infirmary and one working in the community." As well as providing support to parents whose children are in hospital, the charity runs a number of parent and baby groups, including one on the first Wednesday of every month at the neonatal unit at the infirmary.
Lesley said: "It is always a great success and it gives parents with babies on the unit the chance to meet up with those who have come through the experience. "People think we are part of the unit, but the charity pays for us and, with the committee, we raise all the money ourselves." One of the first things Lesley, a former neonatal nurse, does when a new patient arrives is to introduce herself.
She will then give the parents a specially-made baby pack.
It includes an emergency supply of little nappies, a teddy bear and knitted comforters.
Lesley said: "It is all about letting them know we are there. "Not everyone needs support but we can help just by being there as someone parents can talk to, and we can help those, for example, needing financial help. "It can be difficult at times. We support parents whose babies don't make it.
"Then there are those we get to know very well because often the babies can be on the unit for weeks, even months.
"The over-riding joy is when we see the babies go home and I am still in touch with some of the parents I have known for five or six years.
"One of the most wonderful things we do is host a Christmas party. Some people come back year after year and it is lovely to see the families in more normal situations."
Lesley, who is married with two grown-up sons, is the first to admit the charity is now part and parcel of her life. Her garage is full of things that have been collected and will be sold to raise money for the charity.
The 53-year-old, who lives in Birstall, said: "I totally take the job home with me.
"We all help to raise funds and Adapt is part of all our lives and there is so much support between members."
To donate to Adapt or for more information, go to the Facebook social media site at: www.facebook.com/ADAPTPREM www.prembabies.co.uk Was your baby cared for by the neonatal team? You can leave a message of thanks at: www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk We will print as many as we can in the paper and online.
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