11 July 2008
Babies born at Epsom and St Helier hospitals on the 60th birthday of the NHS last Saturday (5 July) celebrated with the Trust, by spending their first hours in the world wearing a commemorative NHS embroidered sleepsuit.
Chief Executive Samantha Jones said the suits were a wonderful way to celebrate the anniversary of the NHS. "We presented the suits to the babies born on the day of the 60th anniversary. The embroidery was beautifully done and the babies looked fantastic in them. The mums and dads of the babies born that day were very pleased too - many have promised to keep them as a keepsake for their baby to look at when they are older."
Neonatal junior sister Liz Cooling, who also runs a local embroidery business, donated her time to embroider the sleepsuits especially for the birthday. Her 'Yours Personally' store in Cheam specialises in items like baby blankets, customised for parents with embroidery design.
She said: "It's nice that the parents could feel involved as part of the celebrations, we wanted all the families to feel part of the 60th anniversary celebrations."
Celebrations planned for the Trust include a Trust Ball, and a circus to be held for staff and their children on the Sutton Hospital grounds, a photography competition and an Improving Working Lives Staff Welfare event later this year.
