The Cornwall Birth and Baby Appeal has been launched with the aim of raise the money needed to complete the transformation of the maternity and neonatal facilities at the county's largest hospital.

The appeal, launched by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity, will fund equipment which is in real need in the two departments and allow for refurbishments to provide more homely and relaxed environments. Money will supplement a programme of development, already underway, which has been made possible through £3.6 million of investment from the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.

“We want to give parents and babies in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly the very best start," said Kathy Byrne, chief executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust. "We truly believe that women, babies and their families deserve the best possible care. You can be a part of this very special vision and make a real difference.”

There will be a new birth unit offering water birth facilities and the neonatal unit will relocate to a much larger area giving more space in the special care nurseries and additional parent facilities. Over 4,000 babies a year are born at the hospital and ten to 12 per cent of those babies are cared for by the team at the county’s only neonatal unit. Rachel Bailey, neonatal sister, said: “The new unit will provide a lot more space, better facilities to enable families to be closer to their babies and to feel more comfortable, an increased number of 'rooming in' bedrooms, a parents kitchen and much improved outpatients area.

"The extra space will allow for better and more comfortable seating which will facilitate quality time for skin to skin, kangaroo cuddles, and bonding between parents and their new arrival. For babies, having their families so closely involved can help lower stress levels, promote better health, shorten hospital stays and reduce hospital readmissions.”

Developments to the maternity services have already seen the postnatal ward move to a new refurbished space and soon work will begin on the new birth centre where the addition of four

birthing pools in spacious rooms will give added choice to Cornwall’s parents-to-be.

Some of the items on the appeal wish list are: recliner chairs for parents of new borns to facilitate feeding and bonding in comfort; equipment for neonatal parents' kitchen; active birth equipment to support women to change positions and remain mobile during labour providing pain relief and supporting a normal birth and children’s play equipment for siblings.

“We know that so many people in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly will have been touched by the work of the maternity and neonatal teams and so many more will go on to benefit from the results of the appeal in the future," said Karen Murrish, fundraising manager. "We want to provide care and facilities that go ‘above and beyond’ for all of our babies, parents-to-be and their families. We need the wonderful people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to get behind the appeal and support us in whichever way they can. This appeal belongs to everyone.”

Anyone interested in supporting the Cornwall Birth and Baby Appeal should go to baba.royalcornwall.nhs.uk; call 01872 252858 or email RCHT.Charity@nhs.net . Appeal news and updates can also be followed at facebook.com/royalcornwallhospitalscharity/.