University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire Charity (UHCW Charity) is thrilled to have recently funded the vCreate Secure Video Messaging service at UHCW NHS Trust.
The system is a secure video and photograph messaging service that allows clinical teams in neonatal and paediatric units to send visual updates to parents for those times when they're unable to be with their child. It allows parents to access updates created by staff and helps to minimise separation anxiety when families cannot be with their child. Regular video updates provide reassurance and are accessible on any device, 24 hours per day enabling siblings, grandparents and extended family to be more involved.
Staff on the unit are able to document moments that parents ordinarily may miss such as, being snuggled in after having cares performed or coming off a ventilator.
Jo Bradshaw a nurse at the unit said, “All our families will benefit from having this on the unit. Being able to see their child comfortable and settled will really help the emotional well-being of all the families in our care”.
New mum Hayley Neate is a big believer in the vCreate technology.
She said: “It helps me to rest easy and sleep better. I love getting photos and little messages emailed to me when I’m not able to be with Chayse at his bedside.”
We have successfully launched the service at UHCW NHS Trust thanks to fundraisers that have specifically donated for parents going through such a difficult time. The unique, sponsor-based vCreate service is free for parents to utilise however the service does require ongoing sponsorship and support.
Jo O’Sullivan, Head of Charity, said:
“This is a really exciting time and we are over the moon at the feedback we have had from parents using vCreate on the unit. We hope that we can continue to fund and provide this service for parents that need it in the future. We can only do this with support as it does require ongoing sponsorship so we would love to hear from anyone that would like to donate. ”
The funds raised at UHCW Charity go towards important equipment, pioneering research and all the important extras that make our hospitals and community services so special. The projects and services we fund fall outside the remit of the NHS. It is thanks to the generous support of our fundraisers that we help our local hospitals and community services to provide a level of patient care beyond what NHS funding alone can deliver.
Together we make projects happen sooner and to a greater degree than might otherwise have been possible.
To find out how you can support UHCW Charity, please call 02476 966913 or visit www.uhcwcharity.org