A dad of two whose son weighed just 2lb 1oz when born has told of his pride in helping to lead the way at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
 
Richard Newton (34), of Dronfield, was unable to hold his first child for six weeks after he was born 13 weeks premature.  
 
Tiny tot Thomas was delivered from mum Fiona (34) through cesarean section after she developed preeclampsia and had to be rushed into hospital.
 
Now aged five Thomas, who spent weeks in the Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, is thriving with no complications, and dad Richard has since been a leading hospital governor.
 
“We could hold him in two hands, “said Richard, who works at a car garage in Chesterfield.
 
“He was in a plastic carrier bag to keep in the heat and the moisture – we didn’t hold him for six weeks.
 
“The doctor said he was very poorly and I got a phone call one night to say you need to come in now. The priest came and we had him baptised.
 
“Then his grandparents came down to say goodbye. It was emotional day but by the next day everything was good, his stats had gone up and everything was alright!
 
“Now he wants to be a train driver like Thomas the Tank.”
 
Thomas had laser surgery on his eyes at three weeks old and apart from wearing glasses has no medical complications.
 
Richard visited Thomas and wife Fiona in The Jessops wing of the Hallamshire Hospital for 102 days after his birth and afterwards when his care was transferred to the Children’s Hospital.
 
It was then he found out about becoming a governor for the Trust and signed up to help.
 
“It’s something I’m very proud to say I’m part of,” said Richard, who recently became lead governor and has been a governor for almost five years.
 
“Nowhere else has the same reputation as this hospital. Ask anyone in Sheffield and they know someone who has been treated here.
 
“Being a governor means you get a lot more information and a lot more say. I’ve helped to appoint two new chairmen to the trust and three non executive directors.
 
“I speak with the chief executive regularly – you can reach the people that matter. Things can get changed by the suggestions of the governors because we can question the way things work.”
 
Richard, who also has 20-month-old daughter Grace, currently represents the views of trust members living in the Hillsborough and Upper Don area of Sheffield but anyone can contact him with queries.
 
As the hospital is a Foundation Trust, anyone can join up as a member for free, allowing them to give their views on any planned changes to hospital services and helping shape its future. Then they can apply to become a voluntary governor like Richard.
 
Exclusive events are also on offer for members. For more information or to join up as a member email: ftoffice@sch.nhs.uk.

Or to sign up as a member on line click here.