Our Work
Since 1985 until now, and for as long as we can, supporting Neonatal Care is what we do.
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.
That’s 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 Impact
With 1200+ patients each year, our impact is phenomenal. We don’t just provide equipment, we change lives, and it’s a privilege.
From the moment that families arrive on the Unit, we aim to make support available from that first step. We partner with the NHS to provide welcome packs to all incoming patients.
Throughout their journey, they will interact with many facilities and pieces of equipment funded by our charity – from refreshments in the family room to breathing equipment; sensory lights to specialist medical care cots.
What looks like another piece of equipment, actually means that a baby doesn’t haven’t have constant painful blood tests on a regular basis, the blood can be measured transcutaneously (through the skin, non-invasively) instead. It’s those kinds of things that make seemingly small differences, but for the individual it’s life changing.
And we even have parties to maintain a community outside of the NICU for families to find connection. Everything we do is to make our patients and their families feel welcome, comfortable and looked after whilst they are under our care and beyond!
So when you donate to us, fundraise for us, or attend one of our events, you are a part of changing lives. Every single penny counts, and it all goes towards loving our tiny patients and their families as they go through their NICU journey.
NICU vs Charity:
What’s the Difference?
The Oliver Fisher Unit and The Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust are closely connected, but are not quite the same.
The Oliver Fisher
Special Care Baby Trust
The NHS is an amazing service but is bound by budgets. Our role as a charity is to bridge the gaps. We raise funds needed to provide specialist equipment, enhance facilities and support families throughout their journey, recognising that neonatal care affects the whole family, not just the baby.
The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit
The NICU itself is a functioning NHS ward within the Medway Maritime Hospital, which means it’s centrally funded by the government. The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit, as part of the Medward NHS Foundation Trust, employs over 100 dedicated medical staff plus support staff. This unit is a Level 3 neonatal provision, the highest level of care outside of specialist hospitals such as Kings or Evelina in London.
The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit is where the tiny patients and their families get their care. The Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust is where we make that care possible. Both sides are life changing and we work as one team with a shared goal: to provide the best care possible.
1200+
Babies cared for each year
100+
Clinical staff working on the unit
12
Charity trustees
One
Small charity making a huge difference
Behind the Scenes
Behind the scenes, The Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust might look like one person sat at a laptop since we currently have just one full time member of staff, but the team is made up of so much more. On the hospital side, we have an incredible clinical team. On the charity side, our Trustees play a huge part in how the charity is run.
Hannah Grout
PR Officer
(Parent of Ex-Patient)
Hannah met the team in early 2018 when her daughter was born. After experiencing the charity first-hand as a parent, she joined the team as PR Officer in 2023. She says “The OFNU is a place where no parent wants to end up, but it’s the safest place I can think of. My gratitude to everyone is so ingrained and I’m honoured to work with the trust, giving support to families like mine.”
We are also growing, with support across social media, photography and videography and as we continue to expand, we hope to welcome volunteers too. Although we have amazing adhoc volunteers for events, help with merchandise stock take and putting together fundraiser packs, we hope to welcome regular volunteers into our day-to-day runnings soon too.
(So if you’re reading this and would like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you.)
The Day-to-Day
On a day-to-day basis, one of our biggest priorities is keeping an open line of communication, responding to people who reach out to us, plus raising awareness in the community too. We visit schools and workplaces, and keep in touch with local media to get the word out about who we are and what we do.
We also spend a lot of time planning ahead - whether that’s organising our own events, or supporting those who are fundraising on our behalf.
No two days are ever the same!
Our Motivation
Because of the nature of what we do, our motivation is usually personal.
Our employed staff, Trustees and supporters are either parents of former patients, former patients themselves, or clinicians who have dedicated their lives to caring for people.
But no matter where the motivation begins, seeing the difference we are capable of making, is the only motivation we need to keep going.
We make a tangible difference in the work we do, both for the babies themselves, and for the parents and families around them. And what an honour that is!
The Sad Side
Naturally, there are sad moments in the work that we do, and it’s important for us to acknowledge that.
Being respectful during these times is always at the forefront of both our unit staff and the charity team’s minds. Every family is different, and we recognise that no two people grieve in the same way or in the same timeframe.
As a team, we feel that sadness too. We allow ourselves space to process, whether that’s talking it through, taking a moment, or supporting each other well.
The work we do holds a whole range of emotions, and we move through them together.
Despite the difficult moments, there is so much hope in the work that we do. Every day, we see babies grow stronger, families find their footing, and moments of joy break through even the hardest of circumstances.
It’s a privilege to be part of those stories and to help give babies the very best start in life!
Support our work
You’ve seen what happens behind the scenes, from the care on the unit to the support we provide for families every day.
If you’d like to be part of the work we do, there are many ways you can get involved.