Video Stars Open Parents Accomodation At Wrexham Special Care Baby Unit

Monday saw the opening of the newly refurbished parents accommodation in the special care baby unit at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

The accommodation has moved inside the unit so parents can be closer to their babies who require specialist and life saving treatment during the first days, weeks or months of their life.

The event was attended by Dr Brendan Harrington, consultant pediatrician Maelor Hospital, Margaret Hanson the new vice chair of Betsi Cadwaladr university health board, staff and parents from the unit.

Earlier this year Cherish, A Parents Support Group marked the ward’s 25th anniversary this year and the unveiling of the plaque in the accommodation, not only opens the unit officially but is dedicated to Cherish whos have helped and supported hundreds of parents and babies over the years .

A previous user of the accommodation and Trustee for Cherish Parent Support Group, Nicola Valentine said: “The accommodation is vital for parents ,especially those who have to travel, who have their baby in special care. Both my sons were premature and needed extended stays on life support during their first few months ,and having the accommodation meant I could be close by at all times.”

Nicola added: “With the neonatal services review still ongoing for North Wales I feel this is an important reassurance to parents who,s babies end up on the unit that consideration of their needs, whilst at the Wrexham Maelor at least, have been in the minds of the hospital.”

During the 25th Anniversary celebrations Cherish held a fun day in Queens square Wrexham , A black tie dinner and launched their parody Gangnam video “Cherish Wrexham celebrates” which can be found on you tube. Two of the stars of the video Brian Valentine (psy) and Phil Gallup (psys nemesis) and members of Cherish have been invited along with the Mayor of Wrexham Cllr David Bithell MBE to open and unveil the plaque in the unit . Brian and Phil will be in their video “costumes” which will cause some stares as they walk through the hospital.

You can read our coverage of the video and view the Gangnam Style video here.

Brian Valentine commented ” the video was a culmination of a lot of work with a lot of people and a way of not only celebrating our 25th anniversary , but a means of thanking the neo natal staff for their support and help , without them my two boys would not be here to witness their dad doing some dad dancing , and if I have to suffer some embarrassment over the video and my onesie then its a small price to pay.”

For more information please contact either Brian Valentine 07717737311 or Nicola Valentine 07717736733.