THE NEONATAL Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Southmead Hospital has been chosen to receive £5,000 from a Bristol-based firm.

The donation, which will be put towards developing parent accommodation at the hospital, was passed onto the unit on behalf of Hargreaves Lansdown.

The private investment firm was handed the award for IT simplification at the Oracle UK Customer Service Awards.

The Southmead Hospital Charity raises funds and provides support for health services and patients in South Gloucestershire, including the NICU at Southmead.

Karen Wright, NICU ward administrator, said: “This donation is very much appreciated by all the staff here.

“We plan to use the money towards upgrading our parent accommodation. Extra accommodation will make a huge difference to the parents and siblings of the babies on the unit some of whom do not live locally and have to travel long distances to see their baby. The accommodation will benefit all the parents who use the facility.“

David Davies, chief information officer at Hargreaves Lansdown said: “Visiting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit brought back very heart-warming memories for me. It was fantastic to be back and to see the great work the team are doing and how the money will be spent to help local parents and their children.

“Technology plays such a significant role within Hargreaves Lansdown with almost 90 per cent of our business now transacted online. This award is a testament to the hard work, dedication and creativity of the team here whose work is often out of the public eye but absolutely vital.”