Revamped homes to help parents with children in hospital

Bethan and Carwyn with Mari, who spent three months in critical care

Parents of babies in neonatal care in a Welsh hospital will be able to use refurbished homes to stay close to their children following a fundraising campaign.

Houses in Cwtsh Clos, on the site of Swansea's Singleton Hospital, have been upgraded to feature new furniture, smart televisions and calming garden spaces.

"Parents who go through the most difficult experience of their lives are able to have that little bit more comfort," said one mother whose newborn daughter spent time in critical care at the hospital.

Swansea Bay Health Charity's Cwtsh Clos fundraising appeal has been supported by musician Mal Pope, whose grandson Gulliver was cared for in the neonatal unit before he died.

Pope said Gulliver's story was "going to be very personal", but he decided to share it with others.

"It's a hard story to tell, but what I realised is that little Gulliver has already touched so many lives," he told BBC Radio Wales.

He said Gulliver had contributed to people raising money for the houses which was important because many parents travel a long way to the hospital, including those who are "very tired" when their children are ill.

"You're at your worst moment when you see a little helpless baby struggling," he said.

Pope added that while his family's story "didn't turn out as I would've liked", there were many "wonderful stories of families coming through this together".

One of the houses has been named after Gulliver, which Pope said his family was "absolutely delighted" about.

"He's part of our family – we talk about him all the time as being one of my grandchildren, part of our family.

"It's a joy in the sadness. It shows you that out of great sadness some wonderful things can happen."

Jacob was born 14 weeks early in October 2020

Bethan Wyn used one of the houses several years ago when her daughter Mari, three, spent three months in critical care.

After Mari was born "early and critically unwell" in Bristol, Bethan said she was initially reluctant to be transferred to Singleton Hospital as although it was closer to home, they would still be an hour from where their daughter was being looked after.

"Having that roof over our heads during the most difficult time of our lives meant the world to us – it meant we were a stone's throw away from our little girl during the night."

She said she and her family were "grateful" for the fundraising efforts.

Jacob, with his dad Scott, is now four years old

Scott James and his partner first used a Cwtsh Clos home when their son, Louie, was born 17 weeks early and died after six days in 2019.

They returned when their second son Jacob, who is now four, was born 14 weeks prematurely.

Scott said that although he and his partner tried to stay positive through both experiences, "the stress levels were through the roof".

Although the houses they used "needed some refurbishment", he said staying nearby was a great help, and that being back brought "very mixed emotions".

"It was a really tough time, but we can look back with a smile certainly," he said.

Scott said he found the transformation to the homes "incredible", saying it gave him "goosebumps".

"Seeing the houses now, it's just 'wow'. I'm so proud of everyone involved," he said.

The homes, located near the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, have received upgrades to the garden spaces, as well as new furniture

Located close to the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, the homes have been designed to give families "a place to unwind and recharge", said Swansea Bay Health Charity.

Jan Williams, Chair of Swansea Bay University Health Board, said it was "extremely important" that parents spend as much time as possible with their baby during this very stressful time.

"In a quiet close just a stone's throw away from the NICU, the two-bed homes are a welcome retreat for those families who live too far away to travel back and forth."

However, Josie Anderson from the charity Bliss, which supports families of babies in neonatal care, said that it was important to remember that the accommodation offer in neonatal units across Wales overall "falls well below the level of need".

"Bliss' own research last year showed that 85% of babies cannot have at least one parent stay in a room overnight while they're on a neonatal unit," she said.

The Welsh government said it was important that parents had the option of being able to stay as close to their babies as possible and that accommodation should be close to the neonatal unit.

"We have awarded funding to Bliss to support neonatal transformation in Wales, enabling them to deliver a programme which combines direct support for families, work with healthcare professionals and new research to improve neonatal outcomes," the Welsh government said in a statement.