An appeal has been launched to raise £25,000 for the neonatal unit at Medway Maritime Hospital.

The Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust is holding the appeal to coincide with the unit’s 25th anniversary, which it celebrated on Thursday.

Each year 450 babies are admitted to the unit. The government and primary care trusts provide the unit and pay for the staff, but the money available to equip and staff a large intensive care unit is never sufficient.

The trust was formed to raise additional funds to purchase the equipment necessary to enable the unit to continue to enhance its high standard of medical care for the babies.

But due to an increase in the number of babies being looked after by the unit and the cost of equipment rising, the trust needs to raise more cash.

Pat Bagley, trust co-ordinator, said: “We not only take babies from Medway but also premature babies from other hospitals across the county, which is why we have seen a big increase in the number of babies we treat.

“Previously the trust has needed to raise on average £80,000 a year to keep the unit going, but this year we upped that amount to £90,000.

“We have already raised £55,000 this year. You could say we’re half way there, but donations are low.

“People can make donations to the trust or hold fund-raising events. We are writing to schools asking them to hold a yellow and green day where pupils pay a small fee to wear the trust’s colours to school.”

The appeal is running until October 2 next year and the Medway Messenger will bring you regular updates..

Twins Katie and Joshua Hodnett are among the babies being looked after by staff at the neonatal unit. They were born at 29 weeks on September 13, weighing just three pounds one ounce each.

Mum Ann Hodnett said: “I didn’t really know about the unit’s existence until the twins were born. I guess it’s just one of those things you’re blissfully unaware of it until you need it. It certainly gave my babies the best chance of survival.

“All the staff have been wonderful and Katie and Joshua are doing really well. I’m just pleased we have such a facility in Kent.”

Donations can be sent to Pat Bagley, Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust, Medway Maritime Hospital, Windmill Road, Gillingham, ME7 5NY.

To notify Mrs Bagley of a fund-raising event, call 01634 825122 or email patricia.bagley@medway.nhs.uk