Dropping in to help Silver Star baby unit (From The Oxford Times)

Dropping in to help Silver Star baby unit

12:00pm Saturday 21st April 2012 in Oxford

Film director Armando Iannucci is preparing himself for his latest venture – a charity abseil for the hospital unit which saved his three children.

Mr Iannucci, a writer, comedian and creator of acclaimed political sitcom The Thick of It, will take part in the fundraising leap from the top of the John Radcliffe’s Women’s Centre, in aid of the Silver Star Unit, tomorrow.

Mr Iannucci, pictured, said of his jump: “I’m no John Bishop, can’t run for toffee, am a rubbish swimmer and find cycling a bit sweaty.

“I am, however, prepared to use the power of gravity to drop to the ground from a high building to raise money for the fantastic Silver Star baby unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

“I’m patron of the unit, all three of my kids were born there, and I’ve seen first hand the amazing work it does saving the lives of mums and babies every day.”

The Silver Star unit was set up 40 years ago to provide specialist care for babies and mothers who have complications in their pregnancies.

Silver Star also leads the way in groundbreaking research into the causes and treatment of serious medical conditions in pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia – extreme hypertension in pregnancy.

In summer 2009, the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust decided to close level six of the hospital, which is home to the unit, and shift services to level five because of a shortage of midwives.