Charity donation funds vital new birth centre equipment

A donation of £11,000 from Friends of Frome Hospital has enabled Frome Birth Centre to purchase vital new equipment to support local families.

Thanks to the funding, the birth centre, based at Frome Community Hospital, has installed two cots, two reclining feeding chairs, a birthing couch, an air tube and an electric hospital grade breast pump.

Staff at the birthing centre have thanked the Friends of Frome Hospital for the donation, which will help improve comfort and care for people with their new babies.

“The Friends of Frome Hospital are an amazing charity who fundraise for the hospital,” said Nikki Matthews from the birthing centre team. “They are always so generous when it comes to anything that benefits the families of Frome, especially the mums, birthing people and new babies.

“This equipment is going to help so many families who pass through our doors and we can’t thank them enough.”

With 21 members of staff comprising midwives, maternity support workers and admin staff, the team report they are ‘busier than ever’ at the birthing centre.

“Our birth numbers for both Frome unit births and home births are rising year on year and we are thrilled because it’s our favourite thing to do, support birthing people during the most vulnerable time, in the birth place of their choice,” said Nikki, “It’s just incredibly rewarding. Anyone thinking about having a home birth is in safe hands as we also have a fantastic home birth team. We are such a wonderful supportive team and are more like family than colleagues.”