KNOWING you face a high-risk pregnancy will always be nerve-racking for any expectant mother.

But when you have already faced the gut-wrenching loss of a first child, faultless care the second time round becomes all the more integral.

For Oxfordshire author Clare Mackintosh the warmth, meticulousness and expertise of staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital's Silver Star Unit left her 'amazed' on both visits.

The Chipping Norton crime writer has become patron of the Silver Star Society, a charity supporting the unit's life-changing work with families facing difficult pregnancies.

She said: "I benefited from exceptional care during two high-risk pregnancies and will always be grateful.

"It is a great honour to be invited to be a patron and I hope I can help continue the astonishing work carried out by so many dedicated volunteers."

Nine years ago Mrs Mackintosh, now 40, was 26 weeks into her first pregnancy with twins when her waters broke and she was admitted to the JR.

For the rest of her pregnancy and for three weeks after the birth, due to infection from a retained placenta, she stayed in a private room on Level 7 overseen by Silver Star.

She said: "It was then that I understood how privileged we were. From the expertise of the doctors and midwives, and the state-of-the-art technology, to the provision of fridges in which to keep my pregnancy-craving jelly, the facilities were second to none. The care and compassion of the Silver Star staff will forever stay with me."

But shortly after returning home with baby boys Alex and Josh the unthinkable occurred; Alex contracted meningitis and was re-admitted to hospital.

She said: "It was a horrific time and one I know that all too many parents reading this can relate to.

"When they were just five weeks we removed Alex from intensive care, and he died in our arms."

For the next eight months Mrs Mackintosh and her husband, still recovering from the grief of having lost a child, thought little of Silver Star or its services.

But when she fell pregnant, once again with twins, she was referred instantly to the Silver Star Unit where she spent so much time she came to know the nurses by name.

Mrs Mackintosh said: "It is hard to explain the sheer terror I felt and my absolute conviction that this pregnancy would end up like the last.

"A cervical stitch, fortnightly scans, bed rest, drugs - I was in good hands and at 37 weeks I gave birth to two healthy babies."

Facing another retained placenta, Mrs Mackintosh, who at the time still worked for Thames Valley Police, was kept in hospital for three weeks with babies Evie and George.

She said: "I was amazed to be taken to an enormous room with two beds; one for me and one for my husband, who divided his time between our son, then 15 months, and the hospital, where I was getting to grips with breast-feeding. The difference it makes to have one's partner at your side cannot be underestimated."

Treatment at the Silver Star unit is partly funded by the NHS and topped up by funds raised by the Silver Star Society.

Mrs Mackintosh, a founder of the Chipping Norton Literary Festival, said: "I would urge people to do just one thing to support the work done by the Society.

"It could be a monthly direct debit, a one-off donation or a legacy in your will. It could be a sponsored fun run, an abseil, a cake bake or a collection tin.

"Whatever you do, please do something. It's a small way of saying thank you for something pretty amazing."

An annual Christmas party for staff, supporters and patients of Silver Star will take place on Saturday, December 3 in Tingewick Hall at the John Radcliffe Hospital.