Forever TJ

Walking into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can feel like stepping onto another planet – the environment is probably unlike anything you’ve experienced. The unit is often busy, with lots of activity, people moving around, and loud beeping monitors – and above all, the unit is extremely cramped making the care of our tiny babies particularly challenging.

For the NICU at the Royal United Hospital, this is only part of the story, which is why the ForeverTJ Tribute Fund, in partnership with The Forever Friends Appeal is raising £4.7 million towards a new NICU that will be the first of a new generation of therapeutic healthcare buildings.

We are very pleased to announce that James Osborne will be running in the inaugral Brighton marathon, to be held on April 18th 2010.

As in previous years, James will be raising money for the  ForeverTJ Tribute Fund, and hopes to raise a minimum of £5,000 on the day for the charity.

Details about how to sponsor James will be avaialble soon.

The feasibility study has been a team effort: A partnership between the Forever Friends team, the medical staff, the RUH facilities team, parents, architects and engineers. It has been challenging but extremely rewarding
experience.

As an architect it is a project which makes you want to “get out of the bed in the morning”; to create a facility which we hope will have a real influence and improve the outcomes for vulnerable babies, their parents and the
amazing staff who look after them.

The current assessment of the existing NICU is that it is not fit for purpose either in terms of the quantum or quality of space. Staff, patients and parents coexist in cramped, inefficiently laid out and poorly lit conditions.

Options were considered for various locations for a new NICU as part of an overall business case including both complete new-build and extension to the existing facility. The ability to connect directly to the Delivery Suite within
the Princess Anne Wing was a fix in all options considered.

The proposal consists of a single storey new-build extension, and the refurbishment of the space occupied by the existing NICU facility. The newbuild element accommodates the clinical, support and reception functions as a discreet but contemporary intervention between the Princess Anne Wing and the Wolfeson building. The refurbished element comprises staff and parents’ facilities. The two elements are linked by a new ‘umbilicus’ which also provides an access point for emergency vehicles. The new building encloses an external courtyard space which provides both vista and breakout from reception and parents areas.

Produced by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

Separation of the new build element from the existing will allow it to be completed with minimum disruption to the life of the existing NICU. On completion, occupation of the new building will free the existing area for refurbishment.

It is proposed that the new-build is built onto the existing north / south circulation corridor between the Princess Anne Wing and the RUH. The existing, sub-standard staff changing facilities in this location would be demolished and relocated elsewhere.

The layout proposed for the new NICU is clear and logical. It is clearly zoned for the different functions accommodated as shown on the plan diagram. The zones define clear divisions for infection control and access.

On Saturday 7th July 2007 over 100 families who have had recent experience of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal United Hospital celebrated the official launch of the NICU ’space to grow’ Campaign for premature babies.

The occasion was marked with the unveiling of the new NICU ’space to grow’ Campaign signage above the entrance of the Princess Anne Wing and the release of 500 ‘green’ balloons to symbolise the sustainable part of the build planned to improve facilities for the 500 babies who depend on the care and treatment of the unit each year.

Click here for further information.

A gala black tie night (pink for the girls and blue for the boys!) for over 180 people, with a champagne reception at the Roman baths, a 3 course dinner at the famous Pump Room, live music, a charity auction, raffle, casino and much more.

To raise money for the Tribute Fund, the Directors of Innergy Limited (James Osborne and Gordon Stoddart) recently participated in the Bath half marathon, raising over £3,300.