Hospital homes are a real lifesaver says mum

Mum Jo Silverwood is sharing her story to support the Swansea Bay Health Charity’s Cwtsh Clos fundraising campaign to refurbish the free onsite accommodation for families.

Cwtsh Clos is a terrace of five houses a stone’s throw away from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where families can stay to be near their babies.

As Jo explained, when her new-born daughter Cerys was admitted to Singleton Hospital’s NICU she had enough on her plate let alone worrying over the daily commute to be by her side.

Jo had experienced complications well before the due date and required emergency surgery.

Baby Cerys was delivered 11 weeks early in August 2018, weighing only 2lb 4oz, and required a six week stay in NICU.

For Jo and her husband Bob, the prospect of commuting 60 miles from their Hay-on-Wye home on a regular basis was an extra burden at an already fraught time.

So when the couple were given the keys to health board owned accommodation on the hospital site it was a massive relief.

She said: “When I was well enough to be discharged, we went straight into the house. It was an absolute lifeline. I don’t know what we would have done without it.

“I’d just had an emergency C-section and my husband, Bob, was trying to do some work because he wanted to take his paternity leave when our daughter was out of hospital. 

“It meant that he could do a bit of work in the house and I could easily get to see Cerys as often as I could. 

“She was in the unit for six weeks. It’s a long time.”

Although the facilities inside the property were quite basic, the couple were extremely grateful.

Jo said: “When we were there it had a living room with a television, couch and a dining table. 

“The cooking facilities were quite basic. There was a decent fridge freezer but it would be helpful if they had a hob and an oven.

“Bob would cook at home when he went home for work and bring stuff back which we would heat up in a microwave be bought.

“There was also laundrette on site which I used to do the washing.

“And there was a bit of a garden but, when I was well enough, I tended to go for a little walk around Singleton Park or the beach.

“We were just thrilled to have the opportunity to have somewhere close to Cerys. I wasn’t able to drive at that point.”

An added bonus to the homes is they place families going through similar experiences together creating a kind of support group.

Jo said: “I’ve kept in touch with one of the mums who was in one of the other homes.

“You build up a nice network with the other parents because they understand where you’re coming from.

“You can feel quite isolated but the other parents staying there understand what you are going through and you can support each other.

“That’s really valuable. Friends who had more conventional births were sympathetic but they don’t really understand it.”

Cerys is now 5-years-old and doing very well.

As a thank you, Jo ran a half marathon last summer to raise funds for NICU.

And she has recalled her experiences in order to support our new campaign, championed by musician and broadcaster Mal Pope, aimed at raising £160,000 to refurbish and re-equip the five homes.

The well-used properties, acquired in 2016, are now showing their age so the move is much needed.

She said: “It’s a very worthy cause, most definitely.

“Having that time to spend with your baby, when they are not well, and not having to worry about travel is an absolute lifeline. We were very lucky to have it.”

Helen James, matron neonatal services, said: “Having a baby on a neonatal unit is very stressful for parents and the team do an excellent job in supporting parents to come to terms with having a poorly baby or having a preterm baby. 

But then those parents need to have a place to rest and recharge themselves – so it’s really important that we provide an environment that is comfortable and calm. 

“Since we’ve had the houses we haven’t had an opportunity with limited resources, to refurbish them to a standard we would like and families deserve. They have been used so extensively, we now need to refurbish them so that we can support parents.

“We want to make it a pleasure to stay there.”

(Lead image: Swansea Bay NHS)