Northern Ireland Perinatal Trust Annual Report, 2022- 2023
Who we are
The Northern Ireland Perinatal Trust (operating as the Perinatal Trust Fund (NI)), is a small local charity registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (NIC101993, see http://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk/charitydetails/?regid=101993&subid=0). We are recognised for tax purposes by HMRC in line with paragraph 1, Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 (HMRC number NI 00602).
We rely wholly on donations and are grateful to all our supporters who have given freely and generously. Without their help we would be unable to fulfil our stated purposes.
What we do (our purposes)
We help purchase medical and other equipment for the Regional Neonatal Unit, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast.
We support education and training of staff in the Regional Neonatal Unit, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast by funding attendance at conferences, courses and in tertiary/professional education.
We support research into problems of newborn babies in Northern Ireland, by providing top-up funding for consumables or short-term staff salaries.
Whom we benefit
Our primary beneficiaries are babies from all over Northern Ireland. These are often premature or very sick newborn babies.
The intended benefits to these babies are improvements in their health and welfare, and better health outcomes including improved survival.
Benefits can be measured in a variety of ways including: feedback from parents and staff; annual unit statistics; local benchmarking within the NI neonatal network and national/international benchmarking within the Vermont-Oxford Network and other national registers.
There are incidental benefits to the babies' parents and families as a result of improved survival. There are incidental benefits to staff in the Regional Unit, including professional development and training that enables them to do their jobs better.
What we did in 2022-23
A detailed financial report can be accessed on the Northern Ireland Charities commission website. Unfortunately in the past staff activities continued to be impacted by COVID 19. However the year to April 2023 saw significantly more activity than the previous year. We have provided funding for the following areas in keeping with our purposes:
Equipment and other items
We have purchased the following items, which have been used for the care of babies in NICU, or to support their parents:
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Freezer for use by Children’s research team.
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23 copies of “We had to say goodbye before we even met” (Childbirth and loss midwife)
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Laptop for medical device programme alterations
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High fidelity simulation doll
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Forget me not cards (cards sent on behalf of neonatal unit to bereaved families)
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The cost of International Kangaroo care day
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Memo cards for use by staff supporting breastfeeding mothers
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Cerebral Function Monitor
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Storage boxes for bereavement care
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Digital video Monitor (for use with single use bronchoscopes).
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Cost of celebration of World Prematurity day
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8 enteral syringe pumps
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Human brain model for Cranial US course
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Crafts for World prematurity day and Christmas.
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50 “Guess how much I love you” books.
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Christmas day gifts (book for each baby)
Training and education
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Band 6 staff nurse attended the FINE course (Neurodevelopmental education level 1)
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Consultant and OT attended Prechtl course, Dublin.
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Physiotherapist funded for Masters Module in Neonatal Neurology
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Neonatal sister funded for University fees for Masters.
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Physician Associate course fees for Postgraduate certificate in Neonatology
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Sister funded to attend Reason conference
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Band 6 nurse funded to undertake the Neonatal surgical course
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Consultant funded for virtual attendance at Reason conference
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Consultant funded for Reason and Neocard UK conferences
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Band 7 Neonatal nurse funded for PG Cert in Education
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Band 6 nurse funded for Research Methods and EBP module at University of Southampton
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Band 7 nurse funded for to attend 5[th] International Family Integrated Care Conference.
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Pharmacist (8A) funded for virtual attendance at BAPM conference.
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Consultant funded for fees for 2[nd] year MSc in Clinical Research, Newcastle
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Consultant funded for fees for 3[rd] year MSc in Clinical Education, QUB
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Consultant attending BAPM conference
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Sister funded for attendance at 5[th] International Family Integrated Care Conference
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Specialty doctor funded for virtual attendance Hot topics (Washington) & Neocard.
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Graphic designer cost of Neosim Logo
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Breast feeding co-ordinators funded for attending European Academy of breastfeeding Medicine conference, Croatia.
Local Courses:
Running of the Belfast Newborn Life Support (NLS) Course: this is a Resuscitation Council (UK) - accredited national resuscitation course run 2-4 times per year. Annual outlay includes registration with RC (UK), purchase of course manuals, upkeep of teaching
equipment and reimbursement of instructor expenses. During the year 2022/23 the course ran on 13[th] & 14[th] September 2022 & 6[th] and 7[th] March 2023.
Research
No studies were supported.
Charity administration
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Annual accountancy fees
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Trustee indemnity insurance
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Liability and equipment insurance for the Newborn Life Support course.
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JustGiving membership charges.
Statement of Compliance
In setting our objectives and planning our activities for the year, the trustees have carefully considered the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity’s purpose and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries.
Dr Clifford Mayes, Trustee and Chairperson