Nottinghamshire Healthcare colleagues at the Margaret Oates Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) have launched a fundraising appeal to raise £9,000 to enable them to continue providing reflexology and head massage for patients and colleagues.
The MBU is an eight-bed specialist inpatient perinatal unit for mothers from 32 weeks of pregnancy with a serious mental illness and their babies up to one year after birth. The MBU is based at Hopewood, Nottingham.
It is a regional unit for the East Midlands; however, as a national resource, it can accept admissions from other areas of England if needed.
These complementary therapies are scientifically proven to reduce stress and promote relaxation—critical for both patient recovery and the dedicated healthcare staff caring for them.
MBU Therapies overview
The team aims to provide rapid and effective care for the mother’s mental illness while promoting the mother and baby relationship. We use the best approach to meet each woman’s needs and wishes to support a speedy recovery.
Not only have these complementary therapies been well received by patients, but they are also considered very valuable in their recovery journey.
One psychotic patient described how she had five people/voices in her head, and when she had the head massage, the voices became hers again, and the other four disappeared. She felt this was a real turning point in her psychosis.
Another psychotic patient finally fell asleep after experiencing psychotic episodes all day while lying in her bed receiving a hand massage, with a nurse holding her other hand.
Many describe a sense of peace in their minds that they haven’t felt for a long time.
Another patient managed to relax after having a severe panic attack, without the use of medication.
Patients with severe insomnia often manage to fall asleep during the treatment.
Debbie Sells, Ward Manager, said:
“The treatments are hugely beneficial. I’ve seen first-hand what a big difference they make to our patients. We’d really love to be able to continue offering these therapies, but we need your help. We know our patients and colleagues would be extremely grateful for any contribution.”
“For the past two years, they have been funded by people like you. They are currently being delivered by Vanessa at Shine Wellbeing—reflexology and head massage offer a natural, soothing way to help with anxiety, fatigue, and stress, aiding timely and effective recovery.
“Without your generosity, it is likely that these therapies will not be financially viable to continue.”
If you’d like to donate, you can do so here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-wellness-at-margaret-oates-mother-and-baby-unit
