Nursing mothers and mums-to-be at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske have expressed delight after a charitable donation bought them a new breast pump.
The £500 donation from Bounty, which provides the pregnancy and new baby packs for the hospital, has helped to provide a new breast pump for the Wheal Fortune ward in the Princess Alexandra Wing.
Helen Shanahan, infant feeding co-ordinator requested the funds and the rest of the £1,350 needed for new equipment came from the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust.
Helen said: “The breast pumps we have on the ward are quite old now and in need of replacement.
“This new 'Carum' pump comes from our regular supplier ARDO and is on wheels so it can be moved easily to where it is needed.
“Breast milk is the natural food for babies and it really helps those babies who are small or unwell.
“Breast pumps are good for mums who have pre-term or poorly babies as it means even when baby is unable to feed directly from mum, her milk can still be collected and used.
Eighty per cent of mums at Treliske start breastfeeding and staff at the hospital want to help them continue, she added.
Caption: Helen Shanahan, Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust infant feeding co-ordinator, Caryll Beck from Bounty, Suzie Drew from supplier ARDO and Wheal Fortune ward manager Mairead Archard with the new pump.
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