Orchard Gardens care home donate thermos mugs to help new mums in hospital

Staff from Orchard Gardens care home in Eastleigh will be donating 70 thermos mugs following a Facebook appeal by the neonatal unit at Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

Tracy Hibberd, Manager of Orchard Gardens, will be presenting the mugs to the nursing staff at Winchester hospital on Thursday.

She said the care home staff wanted to provide the mugs, which will be used by new mums visiting their babies in the neonatal unit, to thank the hospital for the great work they do. 

Normal cups and mugs are not allowed in the nursery areas to prevent spillages. However, the thermos mugs have closed tops and can be taken into the nursery, meaning mums and dads can remain with their babies and have a cup of tea or coffee at the same time.

Tracy said: “Bonnie, the daughter of our Customer Relations Manager, was treated in the neonatal unit when she was born six weeks early in August last year.

“The nursing staff looked after both of them so well, so this appeal is close to us as a team. All the staff do an amazing job.

“The Royal Hampshire County Hospital is also our local hospital so if our residents need hospital treatment this is where they go.”

The hospital unit, which looks after an average of around 15 babies each month, said they were pleased the social media appeal had been successful.

Sharon Stone, clinical matron on the neonatal unit at Royal Hampshire County Hospital, said: “We are really grateful to the staff at Orchard Gardens for this kind donation. 

“Simple things like having a cup of tea or coffee can make a big difference to the families of babies being treated on the unit. Thanks to this kind donation, mums and dads will be able to stay with their little ones while they enjoy a hot drink.”