Lisa Hague and Kris Commons were delighted to unveil SiMBAs latest Family room project which is situated within the Neonatal Unit of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Also present were SiMBA’s Executive Director, Sara Fitzsimmons, who has been working closely with a designated team of Hospital staff and Grosvenor Interiors along with some of the parents whose fundraising efforts have made rooms such as this possible; Iona & James Morrison, Collette & Tony Early & her brother Kieran Barron, Heather Lawrence & Lewis Mackenzie, although we have many other parents who have fundraised towards this cause.
Collette & Tony Early took this opportunity to present the Cuddle Cot at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital that they had raised funds for in memory of Alannah.
Sara Fitzsimmons, Executive Director, SiMBA said, “I have been a practising midwife for 21 years. Working with a strong team is vital to the success of any project, every member of the team pulled together knowing how vitally important rooms such as these can be. The difference that Family Rooms can make to a parents experience within the hospital is incredible, allowing precious time together that isn’t rushed. These rooms at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital have been created with passion, using the experiences and suggestions from staff and bereaved families and will form the footprint for our future projects.”
The refurbishment project began back in 2015 when Lisa and Kris first visited the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital with the SiMBA team, while the rooms were practical they were very clinical and not at all homely. The Lola Commons Fund for SiMBA set out to change that. The family rooms that we have today cost over £25,000 to complete and include: tea / coffee making facilities, a sofa bed so that parents can stay in the room together, a mini fridge, bluetooth speakers and a second room for other family members and siblings to use when they visit with comfortable sofas and a television.
Colin Horn, Managing Director, Grosvenor interiors created the design concept for the family room. “The design was created to reflect the overall feel and brand of the charity, we are delighted to work with SIMBA and look forward to completing more projects together in the future.”
Lisa continued “Everyone here has their own story, everyone has experienced loss and everyone has dealt with it in their own way. When we lost Lola we didn’t see her or hold her, we didn’t spend time with her, having this room donated by the Lola Commons Fund for SIMBA is incredibly important to us and meeting some of the parents here today who, through their fundraising efforts, made this possible is really humbling. I am passionate about empowering parents to talk about their babies, and not to be scared to make the most of the time that they have together and ensuring that more of these Family Rooms exist.”
Lesley Jackson from the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital added : “ The difference the refurbished family rooms will make to our families simply cannot be put into words. Our families now have a calm, comfortable space away from the clinical environment to spend precious time with their babies at this most difficult time. The team at RHC are indebted to SIMBA and everyone involved in fundraising for this project, it has been a truly marvellous team effort”.
Family Room Before Pictures
Family Room After Pictures
