6 December 2024
Southampton Hospitals Charity celebrates the opening of the new Woodlands Ward at Princess Anne Hospital
We are thrilled to announce the opening of the new Woodlands Ward, a state-of-the-art special care baby unit (SCBU) at Princess Anne Hospital, part of University Hospital Southampton. This remarkable development is a major milestone in neonatal care, increasing capacity and enhancing specialist care for some of the region’s most vulnerable babies.
The purpose-built ward, designed with family-centred care at its heart, offers a brighter future for babies and their families. By providing a warm and supportive environment, parents can stay close to their little ones while preparing to transition home—a step that can feel overwhelming after a long hospital stay.
Woodlands Ward now features 12 cot spaces across three rooms and four family-integrated care (FIC) rooms, where parents can stay overnight with their babies in a homely setting. This dedicated space ensures families have more privacy and comfort while remaining actively involved in their baby’s care.
We were touched to hear from Chloe Dawkins, whose baby, Willis, was born at 28 weeks and spent much of his early life in the neonatal unit. Chloe shared:
“The new ward is such a lovely space and has a real home-from-home feel. It’s calming, peaceful, and helps you feel more relaxed during such a stressful time. We feel so fortunate to have this incredible hospital and the most amazing staff to guide us through this journey.”
Baby Willis is now thriving and closer to going home, a testament to the outstanding care provided by the neonatal team.
At Southampton Hospitals Charity, we are proud to have played a part in making Woodlands Ward an inviting and family-friendly environment. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we provided:
- Recliner chairs for parents,
- Soft furnishings and TVs,
- Beautiful, colourful artwork to brighten the space.
These touches help create a welcoming atmosphere where families can feel supported and cared for during a challenging time.
This new unit is only the beginning. The additional space created by the move will allow for the expansion of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) below. This next phase, scheduled for completion in 2025, will include a state-of-the-art assessment room and a mini-theatre, enabling complex surgeries on-site for critically ill neonates.
It is thanks to the generosity of our supporters that we are able to assist with projects like the Woodlands Ward. Thank you.