S.H.E.D launched to support Dads at Gloucestershire’s Neonatal Unit
S.H.E.D is a new group for fathers of babies who start their life at Gloucester’s neonatal unit
The official launch of a new support group takes place this weekend at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. S.H.E.D, or Support and Help for Every Dad, is a new group aimed to support fathers of babies who start their life at Gloucester’s neonatal unit. The event on Saturday 2nd October is a celebration of the group’s establishment and work to date.
S.H.E.D was established this year to run alongside the broader support group HOPE and offers peer support for Dads who are coping with the wide range of issues associated with having a baby on the unit.
The group has been supported in its establishment by Trust staff members led by Sister Betty Tenn-Stewart and is looking to help make the journey through neonatal care less stressful. Gloucestershire’s Better Births improvement programme has funded a new video that focuses on the stories of fathers who have had their babies cared for on our unit.
Rob Harrison, one of SHED’s founding members says:
“S.H.E.D wants to bring together these Dads to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to speak, learn or listen to other fathers who have walked the same journey; balancing caring for a new child, partner, siblings and families - whilst in many cases having to continue to work to provide for their family.”
Deborah Lee, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, commented:
“We are delighted to be working with parents to establish these invaluable groups, which are providing such important support to the parents on the neonatal unit alongside the professional care we provide for babies and their parents
“Having a baby that requires neonatal care is often a frightening time for parents who can find this bewildering and isolating, so being able to share the experience with other parents who have also been through similar situations can be a real lifeline.”