Chester Childbirth Appeal
“Working as a volunteer at the Comfort Zone is a wonderful experience. All the staff is so friendly, cheerful and helpful to everyone. Patients must benefit from this happy relaxed atmosphere. Personally it's a joy to work here, and I also have the satisfaction of knowing that I'm helping people in need.” — Ann Tubman
Chester Childbirth Appeal is a small and vibrant charity, set up in 1991, which provides a wealth of benefits to the Women and Children's Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The main objective of the charity is to provide a better start for nearly 3,000 babies born each year.
The Chester Childbirth Appeal was one of the very first charities in the country set up specifically to support the maternity unit of an NHS hospital. All funds raised are used in cost effective and appropriate ways to ensure that all mothers and babies can continue to have the very best in modern midwifery techniques and medical support, combined with the comforts associated with home. To date the appeal has achieved everything that it set out to do.
Led by retired midwife-tutor Pat Daniels, M.B.E., the charity has a fund-raising office at the hospital and holds various events throughout the year. Some of the profits go directly to the hospital and the rest goes to the charity where it pays for equipment and facilities, large and small, requested by the medical staff, for Women and Children's wards.
Over the years the charity has been fortunate to have the support of some generous donors and patrons, most significant of whom was the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Looking to the future, the charity will continue to support all who use Women and Children's services in Chester through enhancing and supplementing what is provided by the NHS.
The group has also provided the Baby Memorial Garden, a Japanese Garden, play equipment for the Outdoor Play Appeal, and various items of medical equipment.
Chester Childbirth Appeal has brought benefit to every mother, baby or child who has been cared for at the Countess of Chester Hospital N.H.S. Foundation Trust. We are a small local charity dependant upon support from the surrounding community. The facilities that we have provided are over and above those funded by the N.H.S. and have benefited people from Chester, Ellesmere Port, North East Wales and surrounding areas.
Some achievements so far include:
En-suite accommodation for bereaved parents on the labour ward, where the parents can be together until mother is fit for home
The Snowdrop Room, where their baby can be tended
An Adolescent Unit, where teenagers have their own space
Christopher Wing, en-suite accommodation for parents of very ill children being cared for on the children's wards
Jeffrey Kelson suite, accommodation for parents so they can be near their precious premature babies
A Water Birth Suite
All the Courtyard Gardens
Dr. Sara Brigham's Fetal Medicine Scan RoomFunding comes from the generous support of the local community, grants, and revenue provided by their shop, cafe, outdoor courtyard and children play area, known as the Comfort Zone. This hive of activity is run by a team of paid and volunteer staff.
Attend has also provided £30,000, over a number of years, to help the charity in recruiting more volunteers and staff and developing the services of the Comfort Zone, café, and shop.
Over the coming years, the group intend to develop an adolescent unit to provide an appropriate separate environment for teenagers in hospital. They also aim to extend and upgrade the neo-natal unit, improve the environment in which new-born, sick and premature babies are nursed, and provide an enlarged Human Milk Bank.
Quotes
“Working for the Chester Childbirth Appeal has given me great confidence in working with the public. I have made some great friends with the volunteers and staff alike. I feel honored to work for such a good cause knowing that all the hard work from everyone is helping people in need.”- Becky Cross
“We are most grateful for the support we received from the staff, local businesses and individuals. We are indebted to our many hard working and loyal volunteers.” — Mrs. Pat Daniels
Created 14th January 2013. Updated 2021
Chester Childbirth Appeal benefits from Attend membership, which includes comprehensive charity insurance cover. For more information, or to join, please click here.
