Bradford businesses meet to support their NHS

Business and community leaders were given a moving insight into life on Bradford’s specialist Neonatal Unit when they met at Bradford Royal Infirmary last night.

The event was hosted by Bradford Hospitals’ Charity for members of its 100 Club – an exclusive membership organisation of businesses who wish to network while supporting their local NHS hospitals.

Representatives from some of Bradford’s most prominent businesses and community organisations watched doctors and nurses demonstrate how they resuscitate a premature baby in the Trust’s training simulation centre. They also heard moving accounts from clinicians and parents about the practical and emotional impact on families who have babies in the Neonatal Unit.

Neonatal Consultant Yousef Gargani explained that it was incredibly important to both newborn babies and their parents that families were able to stay together while in hospital. He said often the best treatment was “skin to skin”, or kangaroo care, when a baby is held directly on the parent’s skin. The practice encourages bonding and helps support emotional and physical development. This can only be done when parents spend time in the unit, which is why extra accommodation is needed.

MyLahore Director Ishfaq Farooq presented a fleet of branded ride-on cars his business has purchased for the Trust’s paediatric teams. The cars are used by children when going to the operating theatre or for tests and scans.

Ishfaq explained that he and his family had immense gratitude to the NHS and that he had seen first-hand how Bradford Hospitals’ Charity enhanced the experience of patients and their families in hospital. He originally found out that the push-along cars – funded by Bradford Hospitals’ Charity – were used in Bradford Royal Infirmary when he was in the children’s ward with his little boy. He decided to purchase more cars to make sure more children could benefit from them.

Head of Fundraising Hayley Collis showed guests how Bradford Hospitals’ Charity is funding practical support for Muslim colleagues working across the Trust’s hospitals during Ramadan. She explained that FAST Packs, containing essential items for Muslims fasting during Ramadan, had been funded, as well as PROP Packs for managers to create their own dedicated area to be used as a pop-up prayer facility in wards and departments.

Sharon Milner, Director of Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, said: “We rely on businesses and community organisations across our region to support the vital work we do to support Bradford Teaching Hospitals.

“It was fantastic to see new faces at this event. We are excited to grow the membership and create a thriving support network for all our members. We can’t wait to showcase all our businesses, as well as the projects they have funded for their community.”

The 100 Club already has a mix of members – from construction to IT companies, hospitality to printers – all with a shared ambition to see families from across Bradford and beyond receive a gold standard of hospital care.

Food was generously provided for guests by MyLahore.

Any businesses interested in joining the 100 Club can find out more by calling the Bradford Hospitals’ Charity Team on 01274 274809 or by completing the form at https://bradfordhospitalscharity.org/the-100-club/

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