A supermarket has handed out packs of baby essentials to Bradford Royal Infirmary’s neonatal unit. 

Tesco donated sleepsuits, bodysuits, hats, and scratch mitts from its F&F premature baby range.

The chain teamed up with the Salvation Army to hand out as many packs as possible.

Jan Marchant, managing director for Tesco’s home & clothing range, said: “Premature babies are often unexpected and it can be difficult to find clothing items to fit at such short notice. We want to provide practical help to mums and dads at Bradford Royal Infirmary during a stressful time and help give the babies a stronger start in life.”

According to data from the Office for National Statistics, on average 7-10% of babies born in England and Wales are born prematurely. 

With 23,000 packs of F&F Premature Baby Essentials being given to 157 neonatal units across the country, it’s the equivalent of half of premature babies receiving some of the essentials.

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “Having a baby born prematurely can be a really worrying time for so many, and with our hard-working staff across the country continuing to do all they can to provide care and support to premature babies and their families.

“These clothing packs could make a huge difference to tens of thousands of babies and their families who need it most over the next year, and we are extremely grateful to Tesco, and to the Salvation Army, for making this possible.”

Kirk Bradley, Head of Corporate Partnerships from the Salvation Army, added: “Providing this support means The Salvation Army can continue to provide practical help for people in need across the UK. These generous donations provide comfort for the most vulnerable and give these families essentials in their time of need.”