Our
Story
Since 1985 until now, and for as long as we can, supporting Neonatal Care is what we do. Every charity comes with its own history, inspirations and figureheads. We are no different.
Our Mission
We are so lucky to live in a country where public healthcare is available. However, it can never be ignored that budgets exist and that, often, there is a gap between private and public healthcare provision. This is where we come in.
It is our belief that in their earliest and toughest days of life, our tiny patients - and their families - should have top-level services available to them.
Our charity was founded in 1985 to serve this purpose, and offer a 'financial top up' so the unit has the gold standard of everything it needs. This could be anything from equipment to furnishing the Bereavement Suite on the Unit for those hardest of journeys.
Our Trustees
To make sure our charity stays true to our aims, we have a Board of Trustees made up of both clinicians and public members. Each of them have a tie to the Unit in their history - whether that be as a parent of a former patient or, nowadays, being a former patient themselves!
Our History
Our history begins in the 1950s, when Dr Oliver Fisher was working in Kent:
1950s
The care of premature babies was a relatively new field in the 1950's. In fact, the beginnings of this specialism were a mere 2 cots in the corner of the maternity unit.
1950s - 1982
Born in Dover and a first generation Consultant within the new NHS, Dr Fisher was "a superb paediatric clinician with a tremendous capacity for hard work in circumstances that were often difficult."
Within paediatrics was his chief interest: neonatal medicine. This, coupled with his energy and drive, led to the opening of the Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Unit.
1982
Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Unit opened at All Saints Hospital in 1982.
The Unit eventually grew to be one of the busiest neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the country.
Photo: Franziska
1999
In the summer of 1999, All Saints Hospital was decommissioned and maternity services for Medway and Swale were centralised at the Medway Maritime Hospital. It was here the Special Care Unit became The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit, a Level 3 provision within the Kent, Surrey Sussex Neonatal Delivery Network.
Today
One Unit, Three Wards
The Intensive Care Ward (pictured) has space for 12 babies, all requiring the highest level of care around the clock. Just a single day of care in this ward costs around £1100.
The High Dependency Ward can take 8 babies within it, and patients could be in either an incubator or a cot here. The only rule is minimal breathing support, and care here is around £790 per day.
The Special Care Ward is often seen as the final hurdle for families. Babies normally just need to do a final bit of growing before they head home. The care cost per day here is around £505.
