Get knitting – baby bobble hats wanted at the RUH

Calling all knitters – we're asking for help to provide around 5,000 tiny bobble hats for newborn babies at the RUH Bath Birthing Centre.

We're introducing a traffic light, colour-coded system of green, amber and red bobble hats to help ensure that babies receive the correct level of care they need.

Rachel Coleman, Practice Development Sister, said: "Babies will still receive the traditional midwifery care, but this is an extra visual aid. A green bobble means your baby is term, warm and feeding well. Amber indicates a baby needs a little more help with feeding and keeping warm. Red indicates a baby will have regular observations buy a nurse or midwife, for example if you are diabetic."

Sarah Godwin, Practice Development Sister at the RUH's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (N ICU) said: "The ultimate aim is to reduce admissions from the Birthing Centre to NICU. We want to avoid separation of mums and babies, which can greatly enhance their ability to bond and to breast feed."

Alexander McNamara, father of two-day old Merry, said: "It's a brilliant idea. Merry had a red bobble hat as she needed more observation on the ward. And it means that, even if you don't know anyone with a baby on the way, you can still make a lovely hat that will be worn by a baby and be greatly appreciated by everyone."

The bobble hat idea was 'borrowed' from a system already underway at the Royal Surrey County Hospital. With up to 5,000 babies being delivered each year at the Bath Birthing Centre – and going home with their personal hat – the unit is hoping that volunteer knitters and people with crotchet skills will rise to the challenge.

The tiny hats must be plain white with a red, amber or green pom-pom, and sized between 34-38cms. They can be sent to the Bath Birthing Centre or to Mary Ward at the RUH.

IMPORTANT NOTE: NHS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome advice is that, when indoors or in a warm car, bus or train, you should remove a hat or extra clothing from your baby to prevent it becoming overheated.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

• The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust provides acute treatment and care for a catchment population of around 500,000 people in Bath, and the surrounding towns and villages in North East Somerset and Western Wiltshire. The hospital provides healthcare to the population served by four Clinical Commissioning Groups: Bath & North East Somerset CCG, Wiltshire CCG, Somerset CCG and South Gloucestershire CCG.
• The Trust has 759 beds and a comprehensive range of acute services including medicine and surgery, services for women and children, accident and emergency services, and diagnostic and clinical support services.
• In 2015 The Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was acquired the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) NHS Foundation Trust. The RNHRD treats patients from across the country offering services in rheumatology, chronic pain and chronic fatigue syndrome/ME.
• The RUH is changing - we have an exciting programme of redevelopment underway transforming our site and further improving the services we provide. The Trust is now working towards building a purpose built RNHRD and Therapies Centre and a new Dyson Cancer Centre. For more details visit: www.ruh.nhs.uk/fit4future

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