PETITIONS aiming to safeguard the future of a ‘flagship’ baby care unit in Burnley have amassed more than 12,000 signatures, while hospital bosses have moved to support the service with a new recruitment drive.

In December, the Lancashire Telegraph revealed the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was one of seven specialist services at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust that was subject to a regional review by NHS England.

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Although there are no current plans to axe any of the services, the review is likely to lead to proposed closures in some areas.

Thousands of people have since backed the Telegraph’s Save Our Services campaign, with the NICU at Burnley General Hospital inspiring most of the support.

Now bosses are looking to strengthen the unit by filling four positions which are currently vacant or soon-to-be vacant, as well as cover for staff set to go on maternity leave.

Debbie Mawson, directorate manager. “This is a really successful 34-bedded unit which takes babies from the local area and beyond.

“We want it to become the best in the area and we offer all our staff career development opportunities along with the support they need and a mix of intensive care nursing to looking after those babies who are almost ready to go home.

“To dispel the myth, nurses don’t need prior specialist training to come and work in the NICU.

“We provide a two-year preceptor ship and any specialist training and would welcome any nurses who maybe work in adult nursing, paediatrics or intensive care and are thinking about a change.”

Emma Rhodes, 32, from Brierfield, who has worked in the unit since 2005, said: “The role is so rewarding and the good times certainly outweigh the bad.

“As we have babies coming to us who have been born at 23 or 24 weeks and can be here for months, you take that journey with their parents and you have the chance to build real relationships with them and are there for the good times and the bad.”

“It is so lovely to see babies you’ve looked after finally discharged and you do end up missing them and their families.

The unit has won praise from dozens of parents since the campaign was launched.

The other services at risk are for pancreatic cancer, severe asthma care, HIV, complex vascular surgery, hepatobiliary (liver) and pancreatic care and complex disability services.

For all nursing vacancies, visit the trust’s Care to Make a Difference recruitment site – http://jobs.elht.nhs.uk/job_list/s1/Nursing_midwifery