Neonatal Intensive Care - About Us

Welcome to NICU

Babies spend as little as a few hours or many months on the unit, depending on their condition or needs. This will provide you with an introduction to the unit, which we hope you will find useful.

The NICU is a 27 bed Neonatal Unit with 12 Intensive Care and 15 Special Care Cots.

Medical, nursing and support staff on the unit work as a team and whilst your baby is on the NICU, you will be encouraged to become part of that team, caring for your baby and contributing to the decisions made about your baby’s care. Each day your baby will be cared for by an allocated nurse who will be able to update you on your baby's progress and care, and will answer any questions.

Every morning a doctors' round takes place. You are welcome to be present at this time to discuss your baby's care. Please be aware that for reasons of confidentiality, you may be asked to leave the room when other babies are discussed.

Please feel free to discuss any problems with the nurse looking after your baby, or request to speak to the nurse in charge or the Modern Matron.

The Modern Matron is responsible for the smooth running of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The Modern Matron’s role is to provide a visible, accessible and authoritative presence in the unit setting, providing someone to whom parents and their families can turn to for assistance, advice and support.

Information about your baby

Information regarding your baby's condition will only be provided to parents and other health professionals, such as your baby’s G.P. or health visitor. The NICU has a direct telephone line, which we request is used by parents only, the staff cannot provide information to other members of your family or friends over the telephone:
Direct Dial Telephone number: 023 9228 3232 or 3231- We ask that you do not call during Quiet Times unless it is an emergency.

NICU VISITORS CHARTER

The Trust has agreed the following principles, which are applied to support patients and parents and respectfully request that all visitors take these principles into account when visiting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Visiting times

The NICU operates an open visiting policy. With the exception of the three daily rest periods (Quiet Times) during which time the NICU is closed to visitors:-

7.45am - 8.30am
1.30pm - 2.30pm
7.45pm - 8.30pm

A parent must accompany all visitors. In exceptional circumstances, parents may wish to nominate a relative or friend to visit in their absence. For security purposes parents must inform the nurse caring for the baby of this arrangement and must record the following in writing and hand to the nurse in charge of NICU:

• The name and relationship of the proposed substitute visitor.
• The date and times the substitute visitor will visit.
• What the parent will allow the substitute visitor to do i.e. feed, change, bath or cuddle baby in their absence.
• This record must then be signed by the parent and countersigned by a member of NICU staff.

Visitor Numbers

Visitors are limited to a maximum of 2 (including parents) per cot at any one time. Brothers and sisters are the only children under 16 allowed to visit, but remain the responsibility of the parent/prime carer. It is suggested that visits, which include children, should be limited where possible to avoid boredom.

Visitor Behaviour

In return for our staff treating you with respect and courtesy, we would ask that visitors follow our simple guide.
Please:

• Try and coincide your visits with your baby's care i.e. feed times. This helps promote maximum rest and growth for your baby.
• Tell a member of staff when you arrive and depart the ward.
• Please remove your outdoor coat or jacket before entering your baby's room and hang on the coat hook outside the room - please remember to remove valuables from your pockets.
• Please ensure you wash your hands thoroughly on entering or leaving the NICU as well as before and after handling your baby.
• Parents - please avoid too many cuddles for your baby particularly with other visitors. Over handling may have an adverse effect on your baby.
• Respect other patients and parents when visiting, keeping noise to a minimum.
• Do not visit if you or any visiting children have any infection including 48 hours after having a stomach upset. You may still be infectious, if in doubt call the NICU for advice prior to visiting.
• Be aware storage facilities are very limited so do not bring too many items in.
• Please leave if a member of staff asks you to. You will be told the reason why and whether and when you are able to return.
• If you are a parent and need to visit for long periods and are paying for parking please speak to the nurse in charge about reduced charges or exemptions.
• If visiting during unsociable hours please ask at the main reception who will inform the NICU of your arrival.

Restricting/Excluding Visitors

There are only two situations when visitors will be restricted or excluded:

• Clinical grounds
• Behaviour of visitor/visitors

Clinical Grounds

In some circumstances, the ward staff may judge it in the patient's best interest to restrict visiting. This may be to enable treatment, care or rest to be undertaken.

Behaviour of Visitors

If visitors feel unable to support our principles of behaviour as described above, they may be asked to leave. This will be discussed with the visitor(s) concerned and documented. The Trust has a zero tolerance approach to violence aggression toward our staff and in the unlikely situation that a visitor shows signs of aggression toward a staff member, the Violence and Aggression Policy will be implemented.