One of the first babies to be treated at the Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care has returned to the Royal United Hospital to help celebrate the unit’s 15th anniversary.
Joshua Heather was the first baby to stay in the new centre when it opened in 2011. He visited the unit with his mother Cheralyn ahead of the anniversary on Thursday 23 July and met members of the team who had cared for him.
“It’s great to see where I was cared for and to meet some of the wonderful people who helped me,” said Joshua. “As I’m interested in engineering, it was also interesting to hear how the neonatal unit was specially designed to help new babies grow and develop.”
Joshua and Cheralyn were reunited with Cath Ould from the Neonatal Outreach team, who remembered caring for Joshua and visiting the family at home following his birth.
Cheralyn said: “It was quite emotional to come back and show Joshua where he was cared for, right down to the space where his incubator was when he weighed only 1.5kg.”
Joshua experienced both the cramped conditions of the hospital’s former neonatal intensive care unit and the benefits of the new centre after being transferred during its opening weekend.
Cheralyn described the new building as a transformation, with its light, spacious surroundings allowing her to spend more time comfortably beside her son.
Around 10,000 babies and their families have now been supported by the Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care during its first 15 years.
The centre was made possible with support from the James Dyson Foundation and was designed by Bath-based architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. Research supported by the foundation found the purpose-built environment had improved clinical outcomes, with babies sleeping for longer on average and a majority going home breastfeeding.
Abby’s twin daughters Florence and Freya were cared for at the centre after being born at 29 weeks in 2025. The family spent just over eight weeks in neonatal intensive care before taking the girls home in July last year.
“The kindness, compassion and dedication of the nurses and staff made such a difference,” said Abby. “They became like family to us, supporting not only Florence and Freya but all of us through one of the most challenging times of our lives.
“The Dyson Centre will always hold a special place in our hearts. We will always be grateful to everyone there for giving the girls the very best start and for the care, reassurance and kindness they showed our family every single day.”
The centre was designed to improve the quality of life of sick and premature babies, while also creating a supportive environment for their families.
Its layout follows a clockwise route from intensive care to special care and finally towards home, helping to create a sense of progress. Large windows provide controllable natural light, while exposed timber and open spaces help create a calmer and more homely atmosphere within the clinical setting.
The unit continues to receive support from RUHX, the hospital’s official charity, which helps fund equipment, wellbeing projects and improvements to the care environment.
Recent additions have included the Lori-Grace family room and a new family shower room, specialist thermometers and six advanced incubators donated by The Medlock Charitable Trust.
The centre has received full accreditation from the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative, Silver status under the Bliss Baby Charter and Gold Ward Accreditation. The team is now working towards achieving the Bliss Baby Charter’s Gold standard.
New approaches introduced by the unit include allowing births to be registered within the centre, reducing the need for parents to spend time away from their babies. Home nasogastric tube feeding has also been introduced, allowing some babies to leave hospital earlier while continuing to receive specialist support at home.
Plans are now being developed to introduce biometric access for families, allowing parents to enter the unit without delay when they are not staying on site.
Kirstie Flood, Lead Nurse, said building strong relationships with families remained a priority for the team.
“One of the ways we do this is through our annual Teddy Bear Picnic events, which connect families who have had similar experiences,” she said. “We invite families who have been cared for in the centre during the past two years, so it also gives the team an opportunity to see how the babies have progressed since leaving us, which is so important to everyone in the neonatal unit.”
Weekly music therapy sessions are also available for babies and families, supporting emotional wellbeing and bonding alongside clinical treatment.
As it enters its next chapter, the Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care will continue developing its services, strengthening its partnership with families and working towards Gold Bliss Baby Charter accreditation.
www.ruh.nhs.uk/patients/services/wards/neonatal_intensive_care/
