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LONDON: A major fundraising campaign to improve the maternity building at Northwick Park Hospital was launched on the NHS’ 75th birthday with a £500,000 donation by Lord Swraj Paul.
Business magnate and philanthropist Lord Paul is a friend of local MP Barry Gardiner, who introduced him to the hospital and suggested it was a worthy cause, said a press release.
Improved service
“The maternity service has improved so much in recent years and women need a building that reflects the amazing quality of care they will find inside,” said Gardiner.
The money, according to the release, will be used to improve the façade of the building and make improvements to the main entrance.
The maternity unit, it said, serves one of the most diverse communities in the UK and delivers more than 4,000 babies a year. It is one of the first units in the country to offer a 24/7 translation service for pregnant women whose first language is not English.
Lord Swraj Paul
Honouring Lady Aruna
Speaking on the occasion, Lord Paul said: “The maternity unit donation is made in honour of my dear late wife, Lady Aruna, who gave me my four darling children. There are few things as important as helping bring a new life into the world.
“That is why I wanted to support the midwives and staff who do such wonderful work here at Northwick Park”. Pippa Nightingale, Chief Executive of LNWH, said: “We are grateful to Lord Paul for his generous donation. I started my career as a midwife so know how important it is to make women feel safe and comfortable in a maternity service.
“It is a place where they are putting their trust in the NHS to safely care for them during pregnancy and birth.”
Diverse population
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) provides hospital and community services to the people of Harrow, Bren and Ealing. Established on October 1, 2014, its team of 9,000 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of approximately one million people.
Besides delivering community services across the three London boroughs, it provides acute hospital services at Northwick Park Hospital, St Mark’s Hospital, Ealing Hospital and Central Middlesex Hospital LNWH is a research-active Trust with more than 5,000 patients taking part in clinical trials last year. It plays a vital role in the education and training of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
In December 2017, it was officially named a ‘university teaching hospital’ in recognition of the important role it plays in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.
