A SPECIAL party to celebrate 30 years of special care was held in Huddersfield.

The event was to mark the success of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary’s special care baby unit.

Scores of past and present staff, former patients and their families turned up to the event at the Ukrainian Club on Edgerton Road.

The hospital’s Baby Care Unit is due to close next month and switch to Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax as part of major changes to maternity services.

So it was a particularly special and emotional celebration for many who attended, as they reminisced about the past 30 years over a unit that has saved so many young lives.

Alison Massey has been a sister on the unit for 22 years.

She said: “I think it is safe to say that there are definitely mixed feelings of happiness and sadness among everybody today. The Special Baby Care Unit has been such a huge part of all our lives, whether we are or have been staff, have been cared for on the unit, or are the parents of those cared for.

“It is fantastic that we can all come here today and celebrate together the Unit’s 30th anniversary.”

Crowds of people crowded round a photo gallery of all the past babies cared for on the ward.

Mita and Iain Solanki-Willats, who live in Honley, have a lot to thank the unit for.

Their baby daughter Hope was born at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary in September 2005, 14 weeks early and weighing just 1lbs 13oz.

Hope spent the first 10 weeks of her life in intensive care.

Mita said: “Hope simply wouldn’t be with us today if it wasn’t for the excellent care and support given to us when Hope vitally needed it.

“All the staff were wonderful and we will be forever grateful to them for saving our beautiful daughter’s life.”

Similarly, Eleanor Ibbotson’s four month old son Liam was nine weeks premature. He spent 98 days on the Unit.

Eleanor, 20, said: “All the staff were fantastic and were a great help. Not only did they give Liam excellent care, but they really reassured me when I was scared.”

Dr Mike Sills has worked at the hospital for 25 years.

He added: “It has been a great pleasure and privilege to have worked on such a special unit. We really must thank Dr Neil Boyle for all the work he did in setting the baby care unit up.”

The Special Baby Care Unit at HRI is due to move on August 1.