The Trust

Dr Tony Ducker and his wife Roberta Ducker founded the Trust named after Dr Oliver Fisher in 1985. Since its inception the Trust has raised over a million pound which has been used to help support the Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit. The fund has been used to purchase essential equipments on the unit namely ventilators, incubators, blood gas machine, ultrasound machine to scan the babys brain and heart, bilirubin machine to measure the level of jaundice, infusion pumps and new computer based cot side terminals with patients monitoring system. The Trust also occasionally provides travel expenses to help parents, visit their babies on a daily bases. Also from time to time medical books are purchase to support staff development.

Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust (OFSCBT) also provided funding for the Kent Neonatal Transport ambulance and the cost of Transport service office accommodation. In 2005, OFSCBT provided funding of £70,000 for the Transitional Care Unit where the baby and mother are kept together while receiving neonatal and midwifery care in a dedicated area. It also supported the funding to refurbish parent bedrooms on the unit and this gives them the opportunity to familiarise themselves with their babies needs prior to taking their child home.

The successful results of the unit are achieved because of the skilled and dedicated staff working with the latest and best equipment and it is with the support of the OFSCBT that this work continues and vital equipment can be added to the Unit. The OFSCBT has been able to provide the Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit with the vital equipment to help look after the very small and very sick infants. More financial help is always needed to support the Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust and the Neonatal unit.