"Parent and baby day service, Bucknall Hospital"

I was horrified recently to hear that this phenomenal unit was due to close - I relied on the service heavily during my pregnancy as I developed ante-natal depression and was already having a difficult pregnancy. I suffer obsessive compulsive disorder and chose to get through my pregnancy without medication as the tablets I take for my condition are dangerous to an unborn child. My therapist kept me going and made it possible for me to continue the pregnancy without medication.

Once my son was born I developed post-natal depression and again, the service helped me through it. Sadly my baby was later diagnosed with a devastating and rare illness, without the incredible support of the unit I don't know how I would have coped. They truely saved my life and gave my beautiful son his mum back. Not only that but my husband got his wife back, at one stage I wasn't sure what would be left of me and whether I would be the same woman I was before. With the help of the unit I've come through the darkest days and have hope again.

To lose this service would be disasterous - they are a life line to a huge number of families.