Social club supports baby unit

The neonatal unit at Southend University Hospital has received £27,230.31 from Ambleside Social Club over the last ten years.

The avid supporters of Southend Hospital have recently joined a new campaign to raise money to buy a cerebral function monitor, which will help detect seizures and improve outcomes for newborn babies.

Donations over the last decade have enabled the department to purchase much needed equipment and enhance facilities for young patients and their families.

Members of the Ambleside Social Club have raised funds for the neonatal unit through annual charity golf days, a raft race and the Three Peaks Challenge, which sees participants climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon within 24 hours.

Jen Foster, Neonatal Ward Manager, says: "We are so thankful for the support we receive from our community. Currently we are hoping to raise £17,000 to fund a new cerebral function monitor. This is used to monitor cerebral background activity, to detect seizures, monitor treatment effects and to predict neurodevelopmental outcomes of newborns. A newer, more advanced machine has been developed that would enable our neonatal team to send images to tertiary centres for expert advice and to compare studies. We are grateful to Ambleside Social Club for its support in helping us to purchase this equipment."