The fountain in Middlesbrough’s Centre Square has turned purple today (Friday, November 16) in support of World Prematurity Day on Saturday, November 17.
Middlesbrough Council is supporting the global movement aimed at raising awareness of premature birth and the impact it has on parents and families.
A premature baby is any baby who is born four to 18 weeks earlier than they should have been. Around 61,000 babies are born prematurely every year in the UK.
Dr Lynn Paterson, neonatal nurse consultant at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “In the last year at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough we saw 320 babies that were born prematurely requiring support on our neonatal intensive care unit.
“We also saw a further 173 babies who were also admitted onto the unit for care but who were born at term.
“World Prematurity Day ensures that more people become aware that some parents have a long and difficult journey to take when their baby is born prematurely.
“It helps to highlight that there is a great deal of work and support going on behind the scenes to ensure the neonatal services that our trust and others provide are as good as they can be.”
Cllr Julia Rostron, Middlesbrough Council's Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said: “By turning Centre Square Fountain purple we are hoping to increase awareness of the amazing work the team at James Cook University Hospital do whilst caring for premature babies and supporting Middlesbrough families through such difficult times.”
