A NEW appeal to give premature babies the best possible start in life has been launched at Southmead Hospital.

The Precious Drops Campaign aims to raise £250,000 to set up a human milk bank to give babies much-needed breast milk while they are being treated in hospital.

The milk bank will be based at the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and will supply donor breast milk to special care babies across Bristol.

The donor milk will be collected from healthy, screened mums who have a plentiful supply and, after testing and heat treatment, will be given to premature babies whose own mothers are not able to produce milk.

Dr Alison Leaf, consultant neonatologist, said: "Breast milk is the natural and best source of nutrition for human babies.

"It can be life-saving for sick and preterm babies but sometimes a mother is ill or unable to provide milk for her baby.

"Donor milk can be a vital step to giving that baby a healthy start."

She said similar milk banks were already running successfully all over the world.

"There used to be a milk bank at Southmead, but it closed at a time when the importance of breast milk was less well-recognised," said Dr Leaf.

"With our ever-improving ability to keep tiny preterm babies alive, the need for breast milk to be always available has never been greater."

North Bristol NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, is organising a series of events to reach the fundraising target including a zip slide event and a sponsored walk.

Rachel Hillan, infant feeding advisor, said: "We take breast milk very seriously here at North Bristol NHS Trust - having been accredited with UNICEF Baby Friendly status on two occasions.

"Please help support us with this campaign. If you would like to get involved, please get in touch - we would love to hear from you."

For more information on the campaign visit www.preciousdropscampaign.com.