Member Article

Special baby care unit backed by special lab

Tiny Lives, the charitable fund that supports the neonatal service at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle, has been given a major cash boost from a kind-hearted local company.

Prudhoe-based unlicensed medicines manufacturer The Specials Laboratory has donated £5,000 to Tiny Lives to support the charitable fund in its inspirational work of looking after 700+ babies born sick and premature who are transported to the Special Care Baby Unit from all over the north of England each year.

Tiny Lives supports the RVI’s neonatal unit by providing equipment that assists nursing staff to care for premature and sick babies. It also contributes to the cost of specialist staff training and research projects to help provide the highest quality of care.

Carol Meredith, the Tiny Lives manager said: “We are delighted The Specials Laboratory is again supporting Tiny Lives in our ongoing commitment to provide the highest quality of care for babies and their parents at one of the most critical times of their lives.

“The kind donation will contribute towards developmental care aids including baby nests, gel pillows and sleep shades, which are vital in the early days as they help provide the best environment for sick and premature babies.”

The Specials Laboratory manufactures unlicensed medicines known as ‘specials’ from its three sites in Northumberland, which are tailor-made for individual patients who would not be able to get a licensed equivalent otherwise.

The award-winning manufacturer has supported many local charities in Northumberland and on Tyneside since the company started back in 1999. It has donated in excess of £100,000 to local charities and community initiatives since 2005.

Jan Armstrong, head of marketing at The Specials Laboratory, said: “Our business actually began life at the RVI in Newcastle so it seemed fitting to be able to give something back to such an incredibly worthwhile cause at the same location we started life.

“Many of the medicines our team make right here in our labs are used in hospitals for babies and young children so it was the perfect local cause for us to support this year.

“Our involvement with the local community has always been a fundamental part of our company ethos, which is why we have supported causes such as Young Enterprise, Community Foundation and maintained educational links with schools, colleges and universities. We hope this will continue for many years to come.”

With around 115 staff, The Specials Laboratory works with thousands of pharmacists across the UK, priding itself on consistently delivering over 90% of specials in just 24 hours.

www.specialslab.co.uk | www.twitter.com/specialslab

www.tinylives.org.uk | https://www.facebook.com/TinyLivesRVI

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jodie Balmer .