A TAUNTON businessman has stepped in to kick off a £100,000 appeal to update Musgrove Park Hospital's maternity facilities.

Love Musgrove, the hospital’s official charity, today launches a campaign to give a facelift to the existing unit, which is over 70 years old and welcomes more than 3,000 babies into the world every year.

But, while the care provided at the unit is good, the current facilities are in need of redefining, modernising, expanding and upgrading.

So, Love Musgrove is calling on the Somerset community and the the thousands of Musgrove babies who have benefitted from the unit since its opening to help raise the money for the project.

And Howard Millington, of Millington Landscapes, has made the first donation - a cheque for £500.

The refurbishment will include building and equipping three new recovery bays for women who have given birth but have need high dependency care.

Equipment, such as CTG machines to record and analyse patterns of babies’ heart beats and monitors to trace the mother’s vital signs, will also be bought through fundraising.

The main reception area - the central hub of the maternity unit - will be reconfigured so there will be a single point of access for all maternity services.

It will also create a more welcoming and relaxed atmosphere for everyone, including visiting children.

In addition, the antenatal clinic will have increased seating capacity, as well as extra scanning and clinic facilities.

The money will also be used to buy smaller items to enhance the environment, including recliner chairs so partners can stay overnight and replacing existing cots for ones that help mothers who have had long or difficult labours or birth to establish feeding and close relationships.

Over the spring this year Love Musgrove called on Musgrove Babies to come forward and tell their story, and had an incredible response from the local community, with more than 1,000 responding.

Love Musgrove wants to continue to celebrate as many Musgrove Babies as possible, so if you or someone you know was born at Musgrove Park Hospital, upload a current picture or even a baby photo using #MusgroveBabies on social media and join the huge community already out there.

To see some of the people who have already joined in head to walls.io/y7a5u There are many ways to get involved in the fundraising campaign, such as holding a coffee morning or taking part in a challenge.

Alternatively, text BABIES followed by your donation amount (anything between £1 and £20) to 70085 or print out and fill in the donation form below.

Somerset County Gazette: