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Use our free age-appropriate play leaflets to support your baby’s development – available in multiple languages.

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Use our free age-appropriate play leaflets to support your child or patients' development - available in multiple languages. Access our free podcasts, publications, posters and articles to learn more about EiSMART in practice.

Learn more about the EiSMART approach in our video

Learn more about the EiSMART approach in this video, where Anna Basu and team discuss their paper, 'Early intervention programmes for infants at high risk of atypical neurodevelopmental outcome'.

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Early intervention programs for infants at high risk of atypical neurodevelopmental outcome

A presentation of the EiSMART framework published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.

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Building A Brighter Future For High Risk Infants: EiSMART is a transdisciplinary approach to early intervention for infants at risk of developmental delays.

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Please complete our Neonatal survey before discharge

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Please complete our Neonatal survey before discharge

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Please tell us more about your experience of our neonatal services

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Create new Neonatal Survey Neonatal Survey - Neonatal Unit

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Thinking about your baby’s stay in hospital…

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Please complete our Hospitals survey before discharge

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Please complete our Hospitals survey before discharge

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Neonatal inpatient survey

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Please complete our accommodation survey.

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In the first week after birth, all babies in Northern Ireland are now offered screening for six inherited metabolic disorders, congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disorders. Most babies who are tested will not have any of these conditions, but for those who do, early diagnosis and treatment is very important.

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Newborn blood spot screening (English and translations)

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The newborn blood spot pre-screening information leaflet for parents includes information about sickle cell disorders (SCD) and medium chain acyl coA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) family history.

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The Lullaby Trust -Safer Sleep Advice For Premature Babies

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Welcome to the Neonatal Units information Padlet.

Here is a list of what you can find within this resource

Links to resources you may find interesting while you baby is cared for on the neonatal unit.

Information on how to support your baby

Links to financial support services

Links to mental health support services

Resources and information for home time

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New to the Neonatal unit - Information for your first few days.

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Information for your first few days in the neonatal unit. Read about what to expect, finding your feet, and how to get more support.

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Award Winning tour and parenting information app. Download today.

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Powered by Atlas - a B2B SaaS HubSpot theme

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Download the Little Journey App for IOS and Android

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A stay in Neonatal care- an animated guide

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A stay in Neonatal care- an animated guide

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A stay in neonatal care - An animated guide

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Ask your nurse for more details

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Join us and meet other families on the unit. Coffee and chat sessions are held weekly in the parents lounge.

Ask your nurse for more details

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Every baby is offered newborn blood spot screening. Your nurse will discuss this with you before it is done.

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Every baby is offered newborn blood spot screening, also known as the heel prick test, ideally when they're 5 days old.

What is the blood spot test?

Newborn blood spot screening involves taking a blood sample to find out if your baby has 1 of 9 rare but serious health conditions.

Most babies won't have any of these conditions but, for the few who do, the benefits of screening are enormous.

Early treatment can improve their health, and prevent severe disability or even death.

What does the blood spot test involve?

When your baby is 5 days old, a healthcare professional will prick their heel and collect 4 drops of blood on a special card.

You can ease any distress for your baby by cuddling and feeding them, and making sure they're warm and comfortable.

Occasionally, the sample may need to be taken when your baby is 6, 7 or 8 days old.

Sometimes a second blood spot sample is needed. The reason for this will be explained to you. It doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong with your baby.

The test doesn't carry any known risks for your baby.

Which conditions is the blood spot test for?

The blood spot test screens for the following 9 rare but serious conditions.

If you, your partner or a family member already has one of these conditions (or a family history of it), tell your healthcare professional straight away.

Sickle cell disease

About 270 babies are born with sickle cell disease in the UK each year. This is a serious inherited blood disease.

Sickle cell disease affects haemoglobin, the iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.

Babies who have this condition will need specialist care throughout their lives.

People with sickle cell disease can have attacks of severe pain and get serious, life-threatening infections. They're usually anaemic because their blood cells have difficulty carrying oxygen.

The blood spot screening test means that babies with sickle cell disease can receive early treatment to help them live healthier lives. This may include vaccinations and antibiotics to prevent serious illnesses.

Pregnant women are also routinely tested for sickle cell disease early in pregnancy.

Read more about sickle cell disease.
GOV.UK also has a factsheet about sickle cell disease
Cystic fibrosis

About 1 in 2,500 babies born in the UK has cystic fibrosis. This inherited condition affects the digestion and lungs.

Babies with cystic fibrosis may not gain weight well and are prone to chest infections.

Babies with the condition can be treated early with a high-energy diet, medicines and physiotherapy.

Although children with cystic fibrosis may still become very ill, early treatment can help them live longer, healthier lives.

Read more about cystic fibrosis.
GOV.UK also has a leaflet for parents whose baby has suspected cystic fibrosis
Congenital hypothyroidism

About 1 in every 2,000 to 3,000 babies born in the UK has congenital hypothyroidism. Babies with congenital hypothyroidism don't have enough of the hormone thyroxine.

Without thyroxine, babies don't grow properly and can develop learning disabilities.

Babies who have the condition can be treated early with thyroxine tablets, and this allows them to develop normally.
The British Thyroid Foundation has more information about congenital hypothyroidism
Inherited metabolic diseases

It's important to let your healthcare professional know if you have a family history of a metabolic disease (a disease that affects your metabolism).

Babies are screened for 6 inherited metabolic diseases. These are:

About 1 in 10,000 babies born in the UK has PKU or MCADD. The other conditions are rarer, occurring in 1 in 100,000 to 150,000 babies.

Without treatment, babies with inherited metabolic diseases can become suddenly and seriously ill. The diseases all have different symptoms.

Depending on which one affects your baby, the condition may be life threatening or cause severe developmental problems.

They can all be treated with a carefully managed diet and, in some cases, medicines as well.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)

In some areas of England, screening for a condition called severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is also being offered as part of the newborn blood spot test. This is to help the NHS decide if screening for SCID should be offered to all babies in England.

SCID causes problems with the immune system. It makes it very hard for a baby to fight off infections like meningitis and pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. About 14 babies born each year in England have SCID.

Ask your midwife if screening for SCID is being offered in your area.
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children has more information on severe combined immunodeficiency

Does my baby have to have the blood spot test?

The blood spot test is not compulsory, but it's recommended because it could save your baby's life.

You can choose to have screening for sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis or congenital hypothyroidism individually, but you can only choose to have screening for all 6 inherited metabolic diseases or none at all.

If you don't want your baby to be screened for any of these conditions, discuss it with your midwife.

You should be given information about the blood spot test and the diseases it screens for in advance so you can make an informed decision for your baby.

If you change your mind, babies can be screened up to the age of 12 months for all the conditions except cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis can only be screened for up to 8 weeks of age.

If you have any concerns about the tests, speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP.

When will we get the results?

You should receive the results either by letter or from a healthcare professional by the time your baby is 6 to 8 weeks old.

The results should be recorded in your baby's personal child health record (red book). It's important to keep this safe and take it with you to all your baby's appointments.

If you haven't received your baby's results, speak to your health visitor or GP.

You'll be contacted sooner if your baby screens positive. This means they're more likely to have one of the conditions tested for.

You'll be contacted:

the day the result is available, or the next working day, if your baby is thought to have congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) - you'll be given an appointment to see a specialist

before your baby's 4 weeks old if they're thought to have cystic fibrosis

before your baby's 6 weeks old if they're thought to have sickle cell disease

Screening for cystic fibrosis finds some babies who may be genetic carriers of the condition. These babies may need further testing.

Screening for sickle cell disease also finds babies who are carriers of this or other red blood cell diseases.

Carriers are healthy, although they can experience problems in situations where their bodies aren't getting much oxygen - for example, if they're having an anaesthetic.

Parents of babies who are found to be carriers should be told by the time they're 6 to 8 weeks old.

What do the results mean?

Most babies will have a normal result, which means it's unlikely that they have any of the conditions.

A small number of babies will screen positive for one of the conditions. This doesn't mean they have the condition, but they're more likely to have it. They'll be referred to a specialist for more tests.

It's important to know that screening isn't 100% certain. A baby with a negative screening result may later turn out to have the disease screened for. This is known as a false negative.

Babies with a positive result sometimes turn out not to have the disease - what's known as a false positive.

Occasionally, other medical conditions are picked up by blood spot test screening. For example, babies with beta thalassaemia major, a serious blood disease, will usually be detected. These babies also need to be referred for early treatment.

More information

Take our survey

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Your guide to the newborn blood spot (heel prick) test, including which diseases it screens for and when to expect the results

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Parent accommodation on the Neonatal unit

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Parent accommodation on the Neonatal unit

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This may be available - please ask your nurses for more details

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How Bliss Supports Families - For Healthcare Professionals

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Lister hospital’s chaplaincy team are available if you want to speak to them while on the unit- please ask the nurse on duty.

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A Guide for Parents Using the Neonatal Service

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A Guide for Parents Using the Neonatal Service

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Ask your nurse if you have any questions

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Looking after your baby on the neonatal unit | 

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Looking after your baby on the neonatal unit | 

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Looking after your baby on the neonatal unit | Bliss

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It can be hard to know how to look after your baby in neonatal care. But getting involved can help you and your baby. Find information and support in this section.

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Read a step-by-step guide to washing and bathing your new baby, including how often to do it and how to top and tail.

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BLISS publications can be accessed in various languages through their website.

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Supporting parents' mental health - information for neonatal healthcare professionals | Bliss

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Why is being aware of parents' mental health so important in neonatal units?

As a health professional on a neonatal unit, a helpful starting point can be to recognise that many parents of premature or sick babies have had a traumatic birth experience, and the psychological impact of that may continue and be made worse by being on the neonatal unit.

Many neonatal units sadly do not have specialised mental health support in place. That's why it is really important that healthcare professionals on a neonatal unit familiarise themselves with the symptoms of perinatal mental health problems.

Being able to recognise the symptoms of perinatal mental health problems can help staff tell the difference between normal psychological reactions that may require a 'watch and wait' approach, and more long-term or severe conditions which may need a referral for psychological assessment and treatment.

Best Beginnings provide information especially for health professionals on supporting parents with mental health issues. You could also think about attending a relevant 'continuing professional development' event to deepen their knowledge.

When meeting or talking to parents on the unit, remember to be kind and compassionate. Having a sick or premature baby is a traumatic experience and it is likely that they will be feeling overwhelmed.

Being by a cot side can be a frightening and lonely experience so whenever you do have the time, try to sit and spend some time talking to and building a relationship with them.

Even a few minutes can make a difference. Encourage the parent to look after themselves when they are away from the hospital by doing things they enjoy and seeing friends and family members.

What 'warning signs' can healthcare professionals look out for to know if a parent is struggling with their mental health?

Use your observational and listening skills to pick up how parents are feeling and coping. As health professionals you have invaluable experience of being with people; what are you hearing and seeing? What do you feel? parents may be subtly telling you they are struggling with their mental health but not want to tell you explicitly for fear for being judged a 'bad parent'. Don't necessarily take 'I'm fine' at face value; it's always worth exploring a bit more.

Check if they are caring for themselves. Do they look well? Tired? Unkempt?

Notice how often they are visiting. If they come rarely, then it might be worth exploring why this is the case. It may be that it is a long way to travel or they have other childcare commitments, however it might also mean that they are avoiding coming in due to anxiety or the trauma of the experience. Similarly, if parents are there all the time, think about whether they are looking after themselves, and consider suggesting they get some rest. It could also be a sign of anxiety about leaving their baby.

Try to find out about any mental health history, what treatment they had (if any) and how they coped, in a sensitive and supportive way. Past mental health problems increase the risk of someone becoming unwell in the perinatal period.

Although uncommon, postpartum psychosis is a severe mental health condition that usually occurs in the first few weeks after giving birth and needs immediate psychiatric assessment and treatment. Learn about symptoms including hallucinations, delusions and mania, and always refer for the parent for immediate assessment if you have any concerns.

Be aware of any changes in parents' mood, and their behaviour and interactions during the course of their time on the unit. Some parents' reactions to the trauma of birth will transition over time, however if the symptoms appear to remain, for example, low in mood or anxious over a number of weeks, then this may indicate a more chronic problem.

If you think someone is struggling, discuss with the multidisciplinary team so that a support plan can be put in place whilst the baby is on the unit.

If appropriate, work with other professionals involved in their care - for example a social worker, midwife, or counsellor in order to create a support network around the family.

You might want to discuss referral to their GP or local perinatal mental health services if you think that they need more specialist input.

How can healthcare professionals support parents with their mental health?

Be kind and compassionate. This is one of the most terrifying and distressing things that can happen to a parent.

Smile when they come on to the unit - many parents have said that when staff don't smile they assume that something is wrong with their baby.

Spend time with them, be with them (if you're able to)- sitting next to the cot can be a lonely and frightening place.

Listen to them and answer their questions as best you can, and be patient if they need you to repeat anything.

If they are struggling, acknowledge their distress, try and normalise it as much as possible and ask what help they feel they need.

Let the Multi-Disciplinary Team know so they are aware of anyone who is struggling and can coordinate on-going support.

Involve them as much as you can in their baby's care, help them feel like they are "being parents" and have some degree of control over what's happening. Show parents this page, for ideas about how they can get involved.

Ask who is supporting them - are there friends and family around? If not, help them think about who might be able to offer support and develop a plan for when the baby is discharged.

Connect with other professionals involved in their care, for example case workers, counsellors, so there is a network of people aware that they are in need of support.

Find out what they are doing when they are not visiting the hospital. Encourage self-care, exercise, keeping up with things they enjoy, seeing friends and family.
Help them access useful resources and support organisations.
How can healthcare professionals take care of their own mental health?

Working in neonatal care will have an impact on your own mental health.

Here are some of Helen's tips for taking care of yourself whilst on the unit:

Accept that this intense work with families will have an impact on you too - "You can't walk in the rain without getting wet"

Learn about the psychological and physical signs of burn-out and secondary traumatic stress and stay alert for them

Develop a good support network, both professional and personal, debriefing sessions, reflective practice, Schwartz Rounds etc, to understand more about the range of reactions that you may feel in response to clinical situations

Seek out further support from a counsellor, psychotherapist or occupational health professional if you feel this might be helpful, take your breaks, take annual leave

Look after yourself too - eat, sleep, exercise, see friends and family, and continue the things you enjoy if you are unwell and ask to be signed off if your mental health is affecting your ability to work longer term.

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Supporting parents' mental health - information for neonatal healthcare professionals | Bliss

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It can be hard as a neonatal health professional to know how best to support parents who are struggling with their mental health. We spoke with Helen Aitchison, Psychotherapist at Barts Health NHS Trust, about how health professionals can support parents and themselves.

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Neonatal Care Leave and Pay: Guidance and FAQs | Bliss

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The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 – a new leave and pay entitlement for parents with a baby in neonatal care – comes into effect in England, Scotland and Wales on 6 April 2025.

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Support services available in Hertfordshire

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Support services available in Hertfordshire

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Families First is the term used for the range of organisations and services that work together to support families who need extra help and support in Hertfordshire.

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Brain and lung development of preterm babies

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Brain and lung development of preterm babies

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An animation series explaining infant brain and breathing development

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For babies born premature or sick | Bliss

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Our vision is that every baby born premature or sick in the UK has the best chance of survival and quality of life.

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Safe sleeping advice

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The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families

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Link to a baby check app to use once home

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Baby Check App

Baby Check features 19 simple checks that parents can do if their baby is showing signs of illness. Each check tests for a different symptom and when completed, a score is calculated that tells parents or carers how ill their baby is. The app then lets parents know whether their baby needs to see a doctor or health professional.

Download for FREE from Google Play or the App Store.

Buy posters, business cards and other materials to help promote Baby Check to your clients and patients

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The Baby Check App helps parents decide if their baby needs to see a doctor or health professional

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Role of Fathers and Non-Birthing Partners in NICU | Pampers UK

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Fathers play an important role in the NICU. Learn all about the role dads can play, the challenges they face, and tips on what they can do in the NICU.

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This page contains a guide to help you understand some of the common words and terms you might hear while on a neonatal unit.

When you are new to the neonatal unit, it can feel like you hear many new words. You might hear medical words, or shortened or abbreviated words which you have not heard before. This can feel confusing and overwhelming at a difficult time.

You have the right to understand the care your baby is getting and how they are doing. The neonatal team will work to make sure they explain things in a way that you understand.

If you are ever unsure about your baby's care, or you do not know what some words mean, let the staff know. They will be happy to explain things in a different way for you, and explain anything you are unsure about.

To find the term you are interested in, scroll through the alphabetical list below.

A

Acidosis (pronounced ass-sid-oh-sis) A high level of natural acid in the blood. This can be because the lungs are not working well, or because not enough oxygen is reaching parts of the body. It can be a combination of both. Sometimes, the body produces too much acid, or the kidneys do not remove the acids from the blood. This is called metabolic acidosis.

Anaemia (pronounced anne-eem-me-ah) Too little haemoglobin in the blood (see 'Haemoglobin').

Apgar score A simple way of checking a baby's health immediately after birth, by scoring 'points' for heart rate, breathing, skin colour, tone and the baby's reactions.

Apnoea (pronounced app-knee-ah) A pause in breathing for 20 seconds or longer.

Apnoea of prematurity Premature babies may have an apnoea because of being the part of the brain that controls breathing is not developed yet. Often the baby starts breathing on their own, but might need to be gently helped by moving them slightly. Caffeine is often given to help with this. Apnoeas in premature babies might happen more than once. Most babies will grow out of apnoea of prematurity by the time they are around 36 weeks.

Apnoea alarms or monitors A monitor that checks that a baby is breathing regularly. These set off an alarm if the baby pauses for 20 seconds or longer between breaths.

Asphyxia (pronounced ass-fix-ee-ya) A condition where there is too little oxygen and too little blood flow in the body. This can cause injury to the brain and other organs in the body. The most common time for asphyxia to happen is during labour (whilst the baby is being born) or at birth.

Aspirate (pronounced ass-pi-rate) This word is used in different ways in the neonatal unit:

1. Doctors and nurses might talk about 'checking the aspirate' before putting a milk feed down a nasogastric or orogastric tube. This means that a syringe is attached to the end of the feeding tube to get a small amount of the baby's stomach contents. It will be tested by using a pH paper or stick to make sure that the tube is in the stomach and it is safe for feeding. This aspirate will be checked regularly.

2. You might hear the word 'aspirate' used when something other than air (eg. meconium) is inhaled into a baby's lungs before the baby has been fully born. This is called meconium aspiration, which can be a serious, although rare, condition (see 'Meconium' and 'Meconium aspiration' for further information).

3. Milk aspiration is when the baby inhales small amounts of milk when feeding. This can happen if they are premature and have not yet developed some skills needed for feeding.

Audiology (hearing) tests There are two ways of assessing a baby's hearing. Both involve placing earphones over the baby's ears to deliver a series of clicks. The baby's responses to the clicks are then analysed.

B

Bagging Putting a mask connected to a squeezable bag or pressure device over the baby's nose and mouth to help breathing.

Bilirubin (pronounced billy-roo-bin) A yellow part in the blood that gives a yellow colouring to the skin. High levels can be dangerous, and cause jaundice.

Blood cultures If doctors think that a baby may have an infection, a small blood sample is taken and added to and sent to the laboratory for testing. Results are available after 48 hours. When it is known what bacteria are in the baby's body, the team can check that the baby is on the right antibiotics to kill that bacteria.

Blood gases This is a test done in a laboratory to find out the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases and acids in the blood. Medical staff do this to work out how well the lungs and circulation are functioning, and to make sure any breathing help they are getting is working well. The number of gases that need to be checked will depend on the problems the baby is having. Some blood gas tests also measure the amount of salt (often called sodium) in a baby's blood.

Blood pressure This is the pressure generated in the body's arteries by the pumping of the heart. It is often monitored in babies who are unwell. They can do this using a cuff on the baby's leg or arm, or a line in their vein. If the blood pressure is too low, the baby may be treated with medicine.

Blood transfusion This is when extra blood is given from a donor. A blood transfusion might be needed to treat severe anaemia (a serious lack of red blood cells), low blood pressure, or during or after an operation.

Bradycardia (brad-ee-card-ee-ah) This is when the heart rate slows down for a period of time. This is common in premature babies. It is usually part of apnoea of prematurity (see above). The baby usual recovers on their own. Sometimes, the staff might need to stimulate the baby to make them respond. Bradycardia usually stops after about 36 weeks' gestation.

Breast pump Piece of equipment used forexpressing breast milk. They can be manual (done by hand) or electric.

Broncho Pulmonary Dysplasia (pronounced bron-co pul-mon-air-ree dis-play-zee-a) See 'Chronic lung disease'.

C

Candida (pronounced can-di-dah) A yeast infection (where fungus grows) of the skin, mouth, gut, groin or inside parts of the genitals).

Cannula (pronounced can-you-la) A very small, short, soft plastic tube that is put into a baby's vein to give fluids or medicines straight into the bloodstream without having to keep using needles. Veins in the arms and legs are usually used, although sometimes the veins in the baby's scalp have to be used. A cannula can last for several days but can also need to be changed every few hours.

Cannulae (pronounced can-you-lee)

Soft plastic prongs which go into the nose to send oxygen into the lungs.

Centile charts (pronounced sen-tile) Graphs showing the normal ranges of body measurements at different ages, like weight and the size of the baby's head.

Cerebrospinal fluid (sometimes called CSF, and pronounced se-ree-bro-spy-nal) Fluid made within the parts of the brain which flow down and around the spinal cord. If anything gets in the way of this flow, fluid can't be removed and the pressure rises. This can cause the parts of the brain to get bigger, which can lead to a condition called hydrocephalus.

Cerebral Function Monitor (sometimes called CFM)

A machine that looks at the background electrical activity in the brain. It can tell if a baby might have a fit. This is often used for babies born at term (near their due date) who might have asphyxia (see above) and are being treated on a cooling mattress.

Chest drain A tube passed through the chest wall into the space between the lungs and the outside of the chest to drain off air or fluid leaking from the lung.

Chronic lung disease (CLD) A condition of the lung that may happen because the baby has been on a ventilator for a long time. With CLD, the baby needs more oxygen and may find breathing difficult. This can take some time to improve. CLD is also known as broncho pulmonary dysplasia (BPD, see above).

Chronological age (pronounced cron-a-lodge-ick-al) A baby's age from their date of birth.

Cooling mattress A cooling mattress is used to treat hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE, see below). The mattress cools the baby to prevent damage to the brain.

Corrected age The age a premature baby would be if they had been born on their due date.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) A type of treatment used to help a baby's breathing and helping them have fewer moments of apnoea. Using a CPAP machine, the lungs are expanded by applying a small amount of pressure (oxygen or air) through small prongs just inside the nose or by a small mask over the nose. In some cases a premature baby may be on and off CPAP for several weeks.

CT scanner This is a special type of X-ray machine that is more detailed than a normal X-ray. In babies, it is usually used to look in detail at parts of the brain or sometimes the chest.

Cyanosis (pronounced sigh-an-oh-sis) When there is not enough oxygen in the blood. It can make the skin, lips, the tongue and nails appear a blue, dusky colour.

D

Developmental care This is about making the baby's surroundings as free of stress as possible to help improve how your baby develops over time. This is done in several ways, by:

Reducing the amount of light and noise that the baby is exposed to. The staff might cover the incubator with a sheet or specially-made cover

Creating a 'nest' to nurse a baby, which makes them feel more comfortable and secure

Changing how your baby is disturbed

Massaging your baby

Involving babies in caring for their baby on the unit - for example Kangaroo Care.

Dysmorphic When the doctors and nurses see some features in a baby that are unusual. In many cases, the features turn out to be normal and cause no concern. If there is a problem, a number of tests will be carried out and, if necessary, other specialists may be asked to look at your baby and give an opinion.

Drip When fluids or blood are passed into a vein or artery using a needle or plastic tube. The word drip is sometimes used instead of Cannula.

E

Electrocardiogram (sometimes called ECG, and pronounced ee-leck-tro-car-dee-oh-gram) A test to look at the heart's electrical activity.

Electroencephalogram (sometimes called EEG and pronounced ee-leck-tro-en-seph-la-gram) A test to look at the brain's electrical activity. This is often done in a different unit of the hospital.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (sometimes called ECMO, and pronounced ex-tra-corp-or-ree-al mem-brain ox-i-gin-a-shon) This machine puts oxygen into the blood when a baby born at term is not able to do this using their heart and lungs. It might be used in very sick babies when treatment with a ventilator has not worked. As this is a special machine, babies might need to be moved to another hospital for this treatment.

Electrolytes (pronounced E-leck-tro-lites) Salts in the body (which can be measured in blood tests) that are essential for the body to work.

Endotracheal tube (sometimes called an ET tube, and pronounced en-doe-track-eel) Soft plastic tube put through the mouth or nose into the windpipe (trachea), which is attached to a ventilator to help breathing. It is often called a tracheal or ET tube.

Exchange transfusion Replacing a baby's blood with blood from an adult donor. This is done if a baby's jaundice level (see below) is very high and they are not getting better with treatment.

Expressed breast milk (EBM) Expressing breast milk means to use a pump, hands or both to get milk from the mum's breasts. The milk can be stored in a fridge or freezer or given directly to the baby.

Extremely low birthweight A baby born weighing less than 1000g.

Extubate (pronounced ex-tube-ate) Removing the endotracheal tube (see above) from the windpipe.

F

Fontanelle (pronounced fon-tan-el) Soft spots on a baby's head that disappear by 18 months, as the skull bones grow and join together.

Family-centred care This means involving families in the care of their baby on the unit. Find out moreinformation about family-centred care.

Family-integrated care This is a care model, which is an extension of the principles of family-centred care. This model can be used by neonatal units.

G

Gases and Gas monitor See 'Blood gases'.

Gestational age (pronounced jest-a-shon-al) The number of weeks the baby has been in the womb is known as the gestation. Being born at term means being born after 37 full weeks in the womb but before 42 weeks. If a baby is born before 37 weeks gestation, they are considered to be premature (sometimes called preterm by medical staff).

Glucose monitor This is a machine that can measure the amount of glucose (sugars) in the blood.

Grunting A noise made by a baby with breathing difficulty.

H

Haemoglobin (pronounced hee-ma-glow-bin) Carries oxygen around the body. It is found in the red blood cells.

Head circumference (pronounced sir-come-for-ence) Measurement of the biggest distance around the baby's head.

Heat shield Clear plastic shell placed over the baby to prevent heat loss.

Heated, humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC, or high-flow) Where warm, moist air flows into your baby's lungs through small tubes in their nose.

High dependency unit (HDU) Another way to describe the level of care babies get in a local neonatal unit. Babies who need a higher level of medical and nursing support than provided in a special care baby unit (SCBU) are cared for here.

High frequency oscillatory ventilation A type of ventilator. With most ventilators, you can see the baby's chest rise and fall at the breathing speed that has been set, which looks like regular breathing. Oscillators use very fast speeds, so the baby's chest appears to vibrate. This may look alarming, but this type of ventilation works extremely well for some of the lung conditions that babies may have.

Humidity To prevent premature babies losing too much water through their skin, they are often looked after in warm, humidified incubators. This is why there is sometimes mist on incubators. Humidity (water) is also added to the gases the baby breathes through the ventilator, CPAP or high-flow machines (see above).

Hyaline membrane disease (HMD) A breathing problem in which the lungs are stiff and collapse instead of staying filled with air. This is also known as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Hydrocephalus (pronounced high-dro-keff-al-uss) When too much fluid is present inside the parts of the brain. The increased pressure in the brain might cause the head size to increase very quickly.

Hypocalcaemia (pronounced high-po-cal-sea-me-a) A low blood calcium level.

Hypoglycaemia (pronounced high-po-gly-sea-me-a) A low blood glucose level.

Hypothermia (pronounced high-po-ther-me-a) A body temperature of below 35.5°C (95°F).

Hypoxia (pronounced high-pox-ee-a) A low amount of oxygen in the body tissues.

I

Incubator A heated bed covered by a clear plastic box that allows the baby to be kept warm without clothes so that they can be monitored very closely. Humidity and extra oxygen can be run into the incubator if needed. The levels of oxygen can be very closely controlled and monitored.

Incubator cover A special cover that is made to fit over an incubator to shield the baby from light and noise.

Infusion pump Like a syringe, and provides fluids, medicine or nutrients directly into the blood or gut. These can be given over a set period of time.

Inotrope A medicine used to support blood pressure

Intra-ventricular haemorrhage (sometimes called IVH, and pronounced in-tra-ven-trick-you-la hem-or-ridge) This is a common in premature babies where there is bleeding into the fluid chambers (ventricles) of the brain. IVHs are graded 1-4, according to their size, and are found on an ultrasound scan. Grade 1 bleeds are quite common in premature babies and tend to have no long-term consequences. Grade 4 bleeds (the biggest) means that there is bleeding into the brain tissue and may mean the baby has difficulties as they develop and grow.

Intravenous (IV) lines Fine tubes (cannula) that are sometimes put into a blood vessel - usually in a hand, foot, arm or leg - in order to give fluid or medicine directly into the blood.

Intravenous (IV) nutrition A way of supplying all the most important nutrients directly into the blood through an IV line (see above).

J

Jaundice (pronounced jawn-dis) A yellowness of the skin and/or whites of the eyes caused by a high level of bilirubin (see above) in the blood. It is very common in babies, and is caused by the normal breakdown of the baby's red blood cells. However, high levels can be dangerous and phototherapy (shining blue light onto the baby's skin) may be needed to prevent high levels.

Jejunal feeding (pronounced ju-jew-nal) Putting milk, using a special soft tube through the nostrils, into the jejunum (part of the small intestine). This is not as common as other types of tube feeding.

L

Long line This is a longer cannula that is put into a vein in the arm, leg or head, with the end of the line lying close to the heart. It is also sometimes called a central line. These lines are used to give the baby IV nutrition directly into a vein when the starting of milk feeds has to be delayed. They can also be used for medication.

Low birth weight (LBW) There are three categories of low birth weight:

Low birth weight (LBW) - a weight at birth of less than 2500g

Very low birth weight (VLBW) - a weight at birth of less than 1500g

Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) - a weight at birth of less than 1000g

Low flow oxygen A way of giving small amounts of oxygen to babies

Lumbar puncture (LP) or Lumbar tap Meningitis is a very bad infection around the outside layers (called membranes) of their brain and spinal cord. If doctors are worried your baby might be getting this condition, they will take action quickly, as it can become serious. The doctor or nurse practitioner will put a small needle into one of the spaces low down in your baby's back, take some of the fluid and send it for testing. The team will offer your baby things like expressed breast milk to help ease any pain.

M

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans Scans that can give a very useful computer-generated picture of the organs inside a baby without harming them. If your baby has an MRI scan, they will be placed in a special incubator that keeps them safe and warm while inside the scanner. MRI images are very useful for checking for any brain damage, and can help see how a brain is maturing. In most hospitals, the MRI unit will be in a different part of the hospital, so the baby will need to be well enough to travel there.

Meconium (pronounced mew-co-knee-um) A dark greenish sticky solid that builds up in the baby's digestive system before they are born. It usually starts being passed as bowel movements within 24 hours after birth.

Meconium aspiration (pronounced mew-co-knee-um ass-pir-ray-shon) A baby who becomes distressed during labour and before they are born may pass meconium while they are still in the womb. If the baby then breathes the fluid which is surrounding them in, the sticky material can block part of the airways. This can cause inflammation in the lung, and mean the baby finds it hard to breathe soon after they are born.

Morphine (pronounced more-feen) A drug used to reduce the discomfort and stress that babies might experience from some of the treatments they need. It can reduce their own breathing, and so the drug is usually reduced or stopped when a baby is taken off a ventilator. If a baby has needed it for quite a long time, they might become jittery when it is stopped, due to not having the drug in their system anymore.

N

Nasal cannula (pronounced nase-al can-you-la) Small tube put into the nostrils to give a baby oxygen.

Nasogastric feeds (sometimes called NG feeds, and pronounced nase-oh-gas-trick) Nutrition fed using a fine, soft tube passed through the nose into the stomach.

Nasogastric tube (sometimes called an NG tube) A long, thin, soft plastic tube that is passed through a baby's nose into their stomach. This tube is used to give milk to a baby until they are strong enough to take milk from the breast or a bottle.

Neonate The first four weeks of a baby's life (up to 28 days).

Necrotising enterocolitis (sometimes called NEC, and pronounced neck-crot-tize-ing ent-er-co-light-is) A serious condition, where tissue in the bowel (small and large intestines) becomes inflamed. NEC can make a baby temporarily unable to take milk, and at its worst it can cause parts of the bowel to become so damaged that tissue within it dies. NEC can affect just a small part of the bowel, or sometimes the whole bowel can be affected. It is common

NICU This stands for the neonatal intensive care unit.

Nitric oxide This is normally made in the body to relax blood vessels. It means blood can flow to all parts of the body. When the blood vessels to the lungs stay narrow, nitric oxide is sometimes given in the air and oxygen given to a baby to cause them to relax and allow blood flow to the lungs.

NNU This stands for the neonatal unit.

O

Oedema (pronounced oh-deem-a) Swelling caused by too much fluid in the tissues under the skin.

Open cots When a baby can keep their own body temperature stable, they can be transferred from an incubator into a cot without a roof.

Orogastric tube A fine tube passed through the mouth and into the stomach. It is used to give milk to the baby. Sometimes this is done instead of passing the tube through the nose (see Nasogastric tube above)

Oxygen saturation This is measured by placing a special probe on the hand or foot of the baby. This can measure the amount of oxygen flowing through the baby's blood vessels. If the oxygen level drops, the alarm will alert the nurse. If the baby is moving around a lot, sometimes the reading is not lower than it actually is.

P

Parenteral nutrition Nutrition given directly into the bloodstream. It is often called total parenteral nutritionor TPN. The liquid contains sugars, proteins, fats and vitamins - everything the baby needs to grow. Parenteral feeding solutions are often given through a long line.

Patent ductus arteriosus (sometimes called PDA, and pronounced pa-tent duck-tuss art-ear-ree-oh-sis) Where the small connection between the vessels supplying the lungs with blood, and the vessels supplying blood to the body, stays open. This is a very common problem for very premature babies.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation An operation which mends a PDA (see above).

Peak Inspiratory Pressure (PIP) The pressure applied by the ventilator to inflate the lungs (breathing in).

PEEP (positive end expiratory pressure) Pressure applied during breathing out. This helps to stop the lungs from collapsing while the baby is on the ventilator (see hyaline membrane disease above).

Periodic breathing When a baby pauses breathing for up to 10 seconds.

Periventricular leukomalacia (sometimes called PVL, and pronounced perry-ven-trick-you-la luke-oh-mal-a-zee-a) This is where the brain doesn't get enough oxygen and blood flow when it is developing, and the brain cells may die and be replaced with fluid cysts. These can be seen in ultrasound scans of a baby's brain. Depending on the area affected, PVL may show possible future problems with development.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (sometimes called persistent fetal circulation, and pronounced pur-sis-tant pul-mon-air-ree high-per-ten-shon) Before birth, the blood vessels of the lungs are narrow. If the blood vessels do not relax after birth, lungs can't get enough blood flow. Oxygen, ventilation, and sometimes nitric oxide and drugs, are given to open the narrow vessels.

pH The acidity (low pH value) or alkalinity (raised pH value) of the blood. A value close to 7.3 is normal for a baby's arterial blood (blood which comes from the heart and to the rest of the body).

Phototherapy Using blue (not ultraviolet) light to reduce the bilirubin level in babies with jaundice (see above).

Physiotherapy Special treatment to help a baby's development in their movement and behaviour. This might include advice on positioning and stretching exercises, as well as treatments for their chest.

Platelets A part of the blood that helps with clotting. If levels are low, platelets can be given in a blood transfusion.

Pneumothorax (pronounced new-mo-thor-axe) When the lung has leaked air between the lung and chest wall (rib cage). This makes it hard for the lungs to expand and take in air. The air can be removed using a chest drain (see above).

Posset When the baby brings up a small amount of milk after feeding.

Pre-eclampsia This condition is quite common in pregnancies and can cause the baby to be born prematurely. It can be dangerous, particularly if it develops quickly. The main symptoms are headaches and swollen feet, which are linked to having high blood pressure. Bed-rest can help, but sometimes the only way to stop pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby early.

Preterm baby A word used by health professionals to describe a premature baby, born before reaching 37 in the womb.

Pulse oximeter This measures oxygen saturation levels (see above).

R

Resuscitate The help given to babies (usually at birth but sometimes during their stay in the neonatal unit) when they need urgent help with their breathing and circulation.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) Damage to the retina (back) area of the eye that is sensitive to light. Premature babies and those born with a very low birth weight are at a higher risk of this condition. It is linked to the amount of oxygen in the blood reaching the retina. It is most common in premature babies born before 32 week's gestation, or babies born weighing under 1500g at birth. These babies are regularly checked for retinopathy of prematurity by a specialist ophthalmologist (a doctor who is an expert in the eyes).

Respiratory syncytial virus (sometimes called RSV, and pronounced res-pir-a-tor-ree sink-ee-tal vi-russ) This virus causes cold-like symptoms, and affects a lot of babies. can make it harder to breathe if the lungs are affected. If your baby was born prematurely, gets a lot of lung infections, or was born with a congenital heart problem, they could become more poorly than other babies if they catch RSV. Very high risk babies might be given a vaccination against the virus.

S

Saturation monitor (prounounced sat-ture-a-shon) See 'Pulse oximeter'.

Scans (ultrasound) The ultrasound scan used on the neonatal unit is similar scans done on pregnant women. The most common scan is on the brain. This is done with a small probe on the fontanelle (see above). There can be lots of reasons for doing scans, but usually it will be to monitor a premature baby's brain, as they are at risk of bleeding into the brain. Other parts of the body that might need ultrasound scanning are the tummy or the heart. A scan of the heart is often called an echocardiograph, shortened to an 'echo'.

SCBU This stands for special care baby unit.

Small for gestational age (SGA) A baby whose birth weight is lower than that of 90% of babies of the same gestational age (see above).

Sleep study This is a test done on babies who have been on oxygen for a long time. It is often done a short time before the baby is due to go home. The test sees whether the baby can keep their own oxygen levels in a safe range. If the baby is to going to go home on oxygen, then the test is used to set the amount of oxygen that the baby will need. Usually the sleep study will happen over a period of 12 hours and must include a period when the baby is in quiet sleep, as this is the time that the body's oxygen levels are usually at their lowest.

Steroids Steroids (or corticosteriods) are used in several ways. They can be:

Given to mums before the baby is born, when the birth seems likely to happen early. The drug crosses the placenta and causes the baby's lungs to mature, ready for breathing.

Given in the first week or so after birth to babies getting intensive care, to improve the blood pressure in babies with very low blood pressure, where other medication is not working

Given to babies with chronic lung disease (see above), as it may be difficult for the baby to come off the breathing machine. Low doses of steroids can reduce any inflammation (swelling) in the lung.

Stridor A harsh noise made by a baby on breathing in, because of a blockage in the upper airway.

Surfactant (pronounced sir-fact-ant) A mixture of chemicals that stop the lungs from collapsing when the baby breathes out. The lungs start making this at about 24 weeks' gestation, but is not well developed before 36 weeks'. This can be the cause of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS - see above). Replacement surfactant can be given as a liquid into the lungs of the premature baby soon after birth.

Syringe driver See infusion pump above.

T

Tachycardia (pronounced tack-ee-card-ee-ya) A rapid heartbeat. Sometimes health professionals might say a baby is 'tachy' if they have a fast heart rate.

Tachypnoea (pronounced tack-ip-knee-a) Rapid breathing rate.

Temperature skin probe A small device that is put on the skin to measure the baby's temperature.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) See 'Parenteral Nutrition' above.

Transcutaneous monitors (pronounced trans-cue-tain-ee-uss) This is a monitoring device that is put on the skin to measure the blood oxygen or carbon dioxide levels.

Transient tachypnoea of the newborn (TTN).

This affects babies born at term. In the womb, babies have their lungs full of fluid (amniotic fluid) which is very important for lung growth. When they are born, the baby takes a few deep breaths and pushes the fluid out into their circulation. If the baby does not take enough deep breaths, the lungs keep some of the fluid.

Transport incubators This is a special incubator that is used if the baby needs to be transferred to another hospital or a different part of the hospital. to another hospital or a different part of the hospital.

Trophic feeds Very small volume tube feeds that are given to prepare the gut at the start of feeding.

Tube feeding When the baby is fed through a small, fine tube that runs from the nose or mouth straight into the stomach. It is mainly used when a baby is too unwell or premature to feed by themselves.

U

Ultrasound scan See 'Scans' above.

Umbilical catheter A plastic tube put through one an umbilical artery or vein. A catheter in the artery is used to take blood samples and to measure blood pressure. A catheter in the vein is used to give fluids and drugs.

V

Ventilation is mechanical support with breathing, so that the baby will be able to have normal levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in their blood when unable to achieve them for themselves. There are several different types of ventilation.

Ventricle (cardiac) - pronounced ven-trick-al

The pumping chamber of the heart.

Ventricle (brain) Space within the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid (see above). This is where bleeding most commonly occurs in premature babies (see intra-ventricular haemorrhage above).

Ventricular tap (pronounced ven-trick-you-la) After an intra-ventricular haemorrhage (see above) a quick build-up of cerebrospinal fluid may happen, causing the head to grow too quickly (hydrocephalus, see above). This can be temporarily treated by putting a needle through the fontanelle (see above) and taking out some of the excess cerebrospinal fluid.
Ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt (pronounced ven-trick-you-lo perry-ton-eel)
This is a tube with one end put into the ventricles in the brain, and the other into the abdominal cavity (in the tummy) to drain cerebrospinal fluid. This is used as a treatment for hydrocephalus (see above).

Very low birth weight (VLBW) A baby born that is less than 1500g.

Vital signs monitor A monitor that measures important signs like blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation levels.

Vitamin K A naturally-occurring vitamin that is important for the clotting of blood. Newborn babies often don't have enough vitamin K and are given it to stop them from bleeding too much.

The information in this section is due for review November 2025

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Words you might hear on the neonatal unit | Bliss

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This page contains a guide to help you understand some of the common words and terms you might hear while on a neonatal unit.

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Family Fund deliver grants for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young people on a low income across the UK

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We're here to support children, young people, their parents, families and carers.

We offer the following services:

help finding childcare

antenatal classes

support with breastfeeding

health visiting (0-5 years)

school nursing (5 years+)

support with parenting and speech and language

services for children with special needs and disabilities

support for families experiencing domestic abuse

opportunities for families to get involved with volunteering

and much more! Check out about the Family Centres page, what's on in your area, or find a Family Centre in your area today to find out how we can support you and your family.

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The family centre service can help before your baby

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Neopedia is a multilingual information platform supporting families and caregivers of babies born preterm or sick. The platform empowers families with knowledge to better understand and advocate for their baby’s care and connects them with national and local support organisations

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Welcome to Neopedia: Neonatal Care Explained

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Discover Neopedia, your go-to resource for neonatal care information, offering guidance for both parents and healthcare professionals to navigate the world of neonatal health.

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Before you leave the neonatal unit, a trained doctor or nurse will show you how to resuscitate your baby if they stop breathing.

The thought of having to resuscitate your baby can be very scary, and is something that no parent or carer ever wants to have to do or think about. But the training is designed to help you be as prepared as possible.

Research suggests that learning how to resuscitate your baby could help increase your confidence and reduce any anxiety you may have.

If your baby stops breathing, it is important to stay calm and call 999; the emergency call handler will help. If you need to perform CPR on your baby, the call handler will talk you through the process until the ambulance arrives.

We have more information on what to do if you think your baby is becoming unwell.

We are currently reviewing our resuscitation video and will upload the new version later this year. Until then, our friends at the St John's Ambulance have an instructional video about what to do if your baby stops breathing.

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Having resuscitation training can help you be more prepared to care for your premature or sick baby after leaving the neonatal unit.

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A food voucher scheme will continue to be available to families in need over the half term holiday period.

The scheme works by providing vouchers directly to families via the network of Children's Centres that are based in communities across our area.

The vouchers are £15 per child and cover the whole week.

The vouchers enable food to be supplied by a number of the major supermarket chains that operate in our communities and any families who are eligible to free school meals will be able to access this support.

Please contact your children's centre directly to make arrangements. To ensure that everyone is safe and socially distanced, please do not turn up to a centre without a prior booking. You can find contact details through the link below.

Anyone requesting a voucher will be required to provide:

their name and address

the child's name and date of birth

Looking ahead, we are exploring how we can best continue the arrangements for the Christmas period taking account of the particular circumstances created by the pandemic.
View children's centres on our Family Information Directory >>
Children's centres

Our children's centres are developed in line with the needs of the local community so no one centre is the same. Children's centres work with partners to offer a range of services to meet your child's needs all in one place.

There is a core set of services they aim to provide:

child and family health services including antenatal, postnatal, breast feeding and baby weighing sessions (drop-in)

advice on parenting and parenting programmes

information and advice to parents on childcare, early years provision and 2-year-old funded places

early education and school readiness, early communication support e.g. speech and language drop-ins

outreach and family support services including home visits

a variety of drop-in sessions

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A food voucher scheme will continue to be available to families in need over the half term holiday period. The scheme works by providing vouchers directly to families via the network of Children's Centres that are based in communities across our area. The vouchers are £15 per child and cover the whole week.

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When babies cry it can be stressful and overwhelming. Help is out there and all you need to do is ask.

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Babies cry, you can cope When babies cry it can be stressful and overwhelming. Help is out there and all you need to do is ask. Latest news Testimonials

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Many extremely preterm babies will develop some degree of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) with the majority of cases never progressing beyond mild disease, resolving spontaneously without treatment. However, a small proportion develop potentially severe ROP which can be detected through retinal screening. If untreated, severe disease can result in serious vision impairment and consequently all babies at risk of sight-threatening ROP should be screened on time.

About the guideline

This guideline is an update of the 2008 UK Screening and Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity, which was originally developed by RCPCH, RCOphth, BAPM and Bliss. It was reviewed in 2013 and subsequently updated in 2022. It will next be reviewed in 2027.

For the 2022 update, the topics were reviewed and are presented separately:

Screening of ROP: RCPCH updated this topic, including:

These can all be downloaded below.

Treatment of ROP: RCOphth has updated this topic, including:

The full guideline

The executive summary

The information leaflet for parents and guardians

These are on the RCOphth website.

The RCPCH guideline is NICE accredited and developed in accordance with our guideline development process manual, Setting standards for development of clinical guidelines in paediatrics and child health (2020).

You can get permission to reuse RCPCH published content quickly and easily.

Summary of changes to guideline on screening of ROP

The guideline takes into account the significant changes in both the clinical and organisational aspects of neonatal care that have taken place over the previous 14 years.

Screening criteria: The gestational age criterion for screening has been reduced from 32 weeks to 31 weeks as based on more recent published evidence. The birthweight criterion of less than 1501g has not changed. It is estimated that this will lead to a reduction in the number of babies needing screening of about 13%.

Timing of first examination: Precise timing of the first examination is stated.

Preparation for screening: Greater detail is included related to the preparation for screening, including consent, comfort care and pain relief during the screening examination. Our information leaflet for parents and carers has been fully revised.

Follow up examinations: When necessary, the importance of attending follow-up examinations is emphasised. The need for appropriate resuscitation equipment and trained staff is stated for outpatient examinations.

Referral to treatment: Details of when to refer for treatment are specified.

Record keeping and communications with others: There is emphasis throughout the guideline on record keeping and communication both with parents/carers and between professionals as well as the role of a ROP service coordinator.

Updated tools: A new algorithm for observations and a screening record form are included.

Comprehensive appendices: These give full details of the guideline scope, methodology and development.

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Screening of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) - clinical guideline

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ROP is one of the few causes of childhood visual disability that is largely preventable. This evidence-based guideline has been updated by RCPCH in collaboration with Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) and British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) in March 2022.

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How you can be involved in your baby's care

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How you can be involved in your baby's care

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How to comfort your baby while in NICU

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Being involved in your baby’s care and procedures | Bliss

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Information on being involved in your baby’s care and procedures on the neonatal unit. Read about procedures in neonatal care, the role of parents in comfort and pain relief and working together with the neonatal care team.

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On the unit we use a sticker chart to map your baby’s progress and journey to home.

Ask your nurse for more information.

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Neonatal Units and Neonatal Intensive Care | EoE ODN

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Welcome to the East of England Neonatal Operational Delivery Network The East of England Neonatal Operational Delivery Network works collaboratively with the 17 units in the East of England. About Us Addenbrookes NICU & PICU units available Learn More There are 17 units in the East of England Operational Delivery Network.

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How does smoking affect my baby?

It's hard to imagine when you cannot see your baby, but everything you breathe in passes through to your baby (including secondhand smoke). Each cigarette contains more than 4,000 chemicals.

When you smoke, carbon monoxide and other harmful toxins travel from your lungs into your bloodstream, through your placenta and into your baby's body.

When this happens, your baby struggles for oxygen. When your baby cannot get enough oxygen, this affects their development.

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Smoking and alcohol during pregnancy - Start for Life

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By giving up smoking and drinking, you are protecting your baby and reducing the risks to their development and future health. Find out why.

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Supporting a family member, friend or neighbour who has health needs can be rewarding but also comes with challenges. You may need help finding services, you may need a break, or you may just need a…

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Preventing Traumatic Head Injury in Babies: ICON

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Preventing Traumatic Head Injury in Babies by PHE in Partnership with ICON

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Neonatal

Introducing the DadPad Neonatal...

Being a new dad can be a difficult thing to come to terms with. However, being the parent of a child in neonatal care potentially brings even more complex emotions and problems, as well as a wealth of complex information to digest.

The idea for the DadPad Neonatal was conceived by consultant neonatologist Professor Minesh Khashu. He recognised that there was a need for better communication and support for fathers of babies on neonatal units. The product complements the existing DadPad for new dads and is thought to be the first resource of its kind.

Professor Khashu said:

"DadPad is such a good idea for new dads, bringing together a range of information in a handy and convenient pack.

"I was excited about the potential opportunities for neonatal units and keen to develop a specialised version for this purpose."

How will DadPad Neonatal help?

The pack of laminated cards contains practical information and advice on relevant matters. These include: how dads can best help themselves and their partners as they each deal with their feelings and emotions; where to go to seek further help, support and information; and practical guidance on holding, handling, bonding with and caring for their premature baby.

It is hoped that the DadPad Neonatal will significantly improve a dad's understanding of their baby's care and treatment. It will also help in conversations with healthcare professionals on a range of topics.

The resource should become a valuable tool for fathers during this sensitive time, as well as growing into a 'keepsake' book for the father, child and family, with spaces in which to record information and emotions.

The DadPad Neonatal was written by the DadPad team, in partnership with Professor Khashu. Funding from National Lottery's Awards4All allowed the concept to be developed, with the DadPad Neonatal initially launched in two units in 2018: Poole Hospital, in Dorset, and Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske, in Cornwall.

Professor Khashu hopes that other neonatal units around the country will adopt the DadPad Neonatal and benefit from the support that it offers.

"Having a sick or preterm baby is a very stressful time for parents. It can get even more stressful for dads who may have to go back to work quite quickly and may not be able to spend as much time on the neonatal unit as they would wish to.

"I think the new pack will be a huge asset for all parents and staff, and especially for dads."

Find out more...

To find out more about the DadPad Neonatal, or if you are a healthcare professional looking for more support in your neonatal unit, please send a message to Julian or call him on 07403 274757.
...BREAKING NEWS... September 2019
We are delighted to report that the DadPad Neonatal was Highly Commended in the Innovation category in the 2019 BMA Patient Information Awards. Read all about the Award over on our News page...

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DadPad | DadPad Neonatal | Neonatal Guide for New Dads

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Being a new dad can be a difficult thing to come to terms with. However, being the parent of a child in neonatal care potentially brings even more complex emotions and problems, as well as a wealth of complex information to digest. The idea for the DadPad Neonatal was conceived by consultant neonatologist Professor Minesh Khashu.

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MNVP - A parents group working to improve maternity and neonatal care.

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MNVP - A parents group working to improve maternity and neonatal care.

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Essential equipment donated

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We work witha wide range of organisations. These include charities, foodbanks, children's centres, schools, social services, the local council, womans refuge, agencies which provide support for victims of modern slavery, domestic violence charities, midwifery and nursing teams. Thanks to these wonderful heroes the families in need are identified and referred to us to receive support.

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s charity what is baby bank closest  donation point hertfordshire

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For Hertfordshire families.

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Health for Under 5s | For healthy, happy early years

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Health for Under 5s provides support to parents and carers right through from pregnancy to pre-school, so take a closer look at our site for your early years support.

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Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

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What is the National Neonatal Audit Programme?

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We are reviewing and updating these webpages to reflect the current work of the maternity and neonatal programme.

We want to reduce harm leading to avoidable admissions to neonatal units for babies born at or after 37 weeks.

We've identified that over 20% of admissions of full term babies to neonatal units could be avoided. By providing services and staffing models that keep mother and baby together we can reduce the harm caused by separation.

We want all maternity and neonatal services to work together to identify babies whose admission to a neonatal unit could be avoided and to promote understanding of the importance of keeping mother and baby together when safe to do so.

Why is this so important?

There is overwhelming evidence that separation of mother and baby so soon after birth interrupts the normal bonding process, which can have a profound and lasting effect on maternal mental health, breastfeeding, long-term morbidity for mother and child.

This makes preventing separation, except for compelling medical reason, an essential practice in maternity services and an ethical responsibility for healthcare professionals.

What we're focusing on

Following a review of patient safety reports, neonatal hospital admission data and litigation claims data, we decided to focus on four areas of significant potential harm to babies. We believe these areas are where our work can have greatest impact:

respiratory conditions

hypoglycaemia

jaundice

asphyxia (perinatal hypoxia-ischaemia)

While the main focus of our work is avoiding harm that requires admission, we're also interested in improving care for babies whose care could have been managed at home or in the community without admission.

What we're doing

Our work is led by clinical experts from a range of organisations and we'll share insights, recommendations and examples of good practice to help deliver improvement across the healthcare system.

We're currently developing resources to support NHS providers, healthcare professionals and parents to prevent avoidable term admissions.

If you would like to know more about our work, please get in touch.

Academic papers

Related content

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Reducing admission of full term babies to neonatal units

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We are reviewing and updating these webpages to reflect the current work of the maternity and neonatal programme. We've identified that over 20% of admissions of full term babies to neonatal units could be avoided. By providing services and staffing models that keep mother and baby together we can reduce the harm caused by separation.

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https://padlet.com/ListerNICU/lister-neonatal-unit-vlljb400bjr9se6b/wish/NvylWE1jKkDLW0OX

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British Association of Perinatal Medicine

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Families | British Association of Perinatal Medicine

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Support for parents, carers and families spending time in the neonatal unit.

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Sources of information and support to aid you in your infant feeding journey

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Hello, we are Frankie and Georgie, two parts of Miracle Moon. A place of psychological support for NICU parents, past, present and future.

We both have lived experience of having our babies in neonatal care after being born prematurely at 31 weeks. We connected online, became friends and then business partners, developing Miracle Moon together, and have since provided online support for the NICU community through one-to-one therapy and social media.

Frankie, as a Clinical Psychologist, has been responsible for the educational & supportive content on our social media and works alongside Georgie as a graphic designer to bring meaningful and supportive content to our audience. We are passionate about bringing humanity, kindness, understanding and advocating for NICU parents. Our mission is to connect with as many people who have been through neonatal care as possible, to validate and support, so that no one feels alone in their feelings and experiences.

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Hello, we are Frankie and Georgie, two parts of Miracle Moon. A place of psychological support for NICU parents, past, present and future. We both have lived experience of having our babies in neonatal care after being born prematurely at 31 weeks.

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Preterm (premature) Birth Service – East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

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The Preterm Birth service is for women who have been identified as being at higher risk of having a preterm (premature) birth.

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‎For parents on NICU to help manage stress in your own time

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Canopie app is mental health support for parents and caregivers

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Becoming a mother can feel overwhelming. Canopie makes it possible to overcome the overwhelm by using 3 evidence-based techniques to help you build emotional resilience and mental confidence so that you can:
* soothe your anxious mind
* manage your stress
* show up as the parent, partner, and person you want to be

Whether you're struggling with low mood, diagnosed with a perinatal mood disorder like anxiety or depression, or just want to empower yourself with coping tools and mental strength-building techniques to get you through the inevitable ups and downs of motherhood, we can help.

Our curated sessions are personalized for your unique goals, using an expert-formulated and mom-tested blend of clinically-validated therapies proven to prevent and treat postpartum anxiety and depression. Every program will help you gain specific knowledge, tools, and skills to positively transform your behaviors so you begin to find inner calm in spite of the outer chaos that goes along with parenting. As you find relief from stress and anxiety, you'll cultivate more patience, joy, and energy and see improvements in your life beyond your mood.

Our sessions are designed with busy moms in mind. We know that worries, fears, and anxieties come at anytime, often when no one else is around or awake. We're your companion, guide, and cheerleader 24/7.

Rooted in research, we lead with compassion. We're therapy-on your terms.

How Canopie's SIGNATURE CORE PROGRAM works:
- You answer a few questions on your current mood and future goals.
- We curate a 12 day self-guided program to get you to where you want to go. Want better communication with your partner, more sleep, have more control of your emotions, feel less scattered? We've got you.
- You commit 12 minutes for 12 days to feel better.

**In a randomly controlled trial, 100% of our moms reported a positive change in their emotional health with Canopie.**

Other features with your Canopie membership:
COMMON CHALLENGE SESSIONS: 120+ mental health expert-created sessions-from 2-10 minutes-focused on navigating the most common parenting hiccups and triggers that affect our emotional and mental health such as:
- Sleep Deprivation
- Breastfeeding, Pumping, and other Feeding Difficulties
- Relationship Challenges
- Back-to-Work Transitions
- Baby Development Confusion

UNIQUE CHALLENGE SESSIONS: These expert-created sessions guide parents and support their well-being through experiences that pose unique emotional and mental stressors such as:
- NICU Stays
- Traumatic Birth Experiences
- Birth with Multiples
- Second Time Mothers
- Young Mothers
- DMER

QUICK BOOSTS: Sometimes, you just need to hit the reset button. These express 2-5 minute sessions are targeted towards a specific mood to help you find equilibrium again.

PERSONAL STORIES FROM THE CANOPIE COMMUNITY: Real Canopie moms and couples share their real life experiences-the good, the hard, and the really messy so you feel less alone. And get inspired by how they overcame their hardest parenting moments.

PROGRESS TRACKER & CHECK-INS: Our moms see the best results when they commit to consistently engaging in the program. Track your progress to celebrate all the good work you're doing for yourself.

JOURNAL PROMPTS: Our journal section allows you to release thoughts, feelings, and worries or reflect on progress that's been made.

ONGOING SUPPORT: We're here for you every step of the way. Reach out to us to get connected with other resources or to request sessions we don't yet have to better suit your needs.

Join thousands of new moms on their way to and download Canopie today to join thousands of new moms to start your 7 DAY FREE TRIAL.

Canopie is recommended by OBs/midwives, pediatricians, psychologists, and mental health experts. We're proud to be an American Academy of Pediatrics STAR Center Resource.

Sometimes you need an outside voice

When you're on maternity leave and you're stuck at home with a crying baby who just spit up all over you after you finally found the world to get dressed, it can really help to have an outside voice telling you that this is normal or that you deserve grace or that you're doing the best job that you can. I really appreciated listening to the modules in this app during my leave with my second. It's very easy to get into your own head and I even re-listened to some of the lessons that just helped remind me that my hormones were changing and that we weren't meant to take care of a baby alone. It's definitely hard to invest in yourself during this time but I highly recommend taking ten minutes of your day for this. You deserve grace.

Life changing - really

This app has seriously been everything to me. I am a new mom, and totally underestimated just how this would change me. I thought it was going to be rosier. But I've had really hard days. Lots of tears. Lots of wondering if I could do this. I'm so glad a friend recommended Canopie because it's been a life-saver. I use it to help me fall asleep after nighttime feedings (that's when my anxiety seems to be the worst). I use the quick boosts when I'm spiraling. I've learned some really amazing ways to calm myself when I start to go into a dark place which is empowering. So even if I don't have the app with me, I can still use the breathing techniques and practices to simmer down. Immensely grateful for this app and hope more moms discover it!

My daughter loves it!

I heard about Canopie from my OB-GYN office - saw a flyer on the wall at my annual visit and sent it to my daughter who is two weeks postpartum. Like most new moms, she seemed overwhelmed and stressed and I was desperate for her to get help despite her saying she didn't need it. She was receptive to an app and since she started using it, I have noticed a huge change in her! I know she uses it often and has mentioned she's doing one of their programs and sometimes their short segments. I wish I knew more details, but I think every mom (and grandma!) needs to know about just how helpful this app is!

The developer, canopie, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy.

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

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‎Becoming a mother can feel overwhelming. Canopie makes it possible to overcome the overwhelm by using 3 evidence-based techniques to help you build emotional resilience and mental confidence so that you can: * soothe your anxious mind * manage your stress * show up as the parent, partner, and person...

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Using Infant Carriers Slings with babies following-neonatal care

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This link provides information to support safe use of medicines for babies at home.

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Expressing milk for your baby on the Neonatal Unit.

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Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative | Hand expression

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Expressing milk can take time to learn. Find out how to express in neonatal care and how to look after yourself while expressing.

Expressing means collecting breast milk which you can store and feed to your baby later. You can express milk by hand or with a breast pump, which can be electric or manual.

Expressing can be helpful:

If your baby is not well enough or strong enough to feed from the breast straight away

So that both partners or others are able to share feeding

If you are too sick to feed your baby from the breast

If you cannot be near your baby and want to establish a good milk supply

If your baby has difficulty latching on to the breast, but you still want to give them your breast milk.

If your baby is not able to breastfeed straight away, the staff at the hospital will help you to express (collect) your breast milk as soon as possible after your baby is born. This means that your baby will still get the benefits of breast milk until they are ready to feed from the breast or bottle, as it can be given to them by a feeding tube.
It is important to express in the way that is most comfortable and convenient for you.
A small amount of milk is produced in the first few days after a baby is born. This milk is called colostrum, and is often thicker and more yellow in colour than breastmilk. Colostrum is really important for your baby. It helps to boost your baby's immune system, protect them from infections and helps them grow.

Some parents are worried that they are not producing enough milk in these first few days. This is normal - most parents start by expressing less than 1ml of milk at a time. This will increase gradually the more times you express. Around two to four days after giving birth, you will notice your milk becoming more white and your breasts might feel fuller. This is often referred to as your milk 'coming in'.

Later on, the amount of milk you express may change depending on the time of day and how you feel.

After expressing your milk, the milk can be kept in the fridge or be frozen and stored until your baby is ready to have feeds. We have some more information about how to store breast milk at the bottom of this page.

Your milk is best suited to your baby's needs, but sometimes premature or sick babies need more nutrients than are provided in breastmilk alone. If this is the case for your baby, your baby's doctor may prescribe a preterm fortifier (which is usually a powder made from cow's milk) to go in your milk. This will provide more nutrients that will help with your baby's growth and bone health.

Many parents tell us that expressing can feel like a big pressure. It is important not to be too hard on yourself if you are not able to express a lot of milk in the early stages. No matter how much or how little you can express, your baby will benefit.

Many parents find comfort in expressing as it is something positive and important they can do for their baby. Try not to compare the amount you are expressing with others, as they may have faced different challenges or situations to you.

Expressing breast milk can also take time to learn. The staff looking after your baby will give you support and practical help with this. Speak to your neonatal nurse, feeding specialist or midwife for more support.

In this section, we have more specific information about:

If you have any questions about expressing or are not sure what to do, you should always ask questions or seek more support. Most units will provide specific support with expressing, and your neonatal nurse will be happy to help with any questions that you have.

How often should I be expressing milk for my baby?

It is important to start expressing milk as soon as possible after your baby is born - ideally within two hours. It is recommended you express frequently to keep your milk supply up. To begin with, this is around eight to ten times in 24 hours, including at least once at night. This is because breast milk is produced on a demand and supply system, so you are likely to produce less milk overall if long periods of time are left between expressing.

In time you will find what works best for you. You may find that your milk flow responds to a fixed routine and will trigger a let-down reflex (see below), which will make it easier to express. This might include actions when you prepare to express, such as removing equipment from the steriliser, or putting the pump together.

The let-down reflex

When you express milk, you may notice tingling or prickling in your breasts and nipples, or a feeling as if the milk is rushing in to fill them. This is called the let-down reflex (it is sometimes called the milk ejection reflex). During the let-down reflex, a hormone called oxytocin is released, which helps with milk flow. This takes a few minutes to appear at first, but later it will happen in a few seconds.

The let-down reflex feels different to different women. Some mothers describe a slight pain and some mothers have no sensations at all. Your body may respond to certain things you do, which can trigger your let-down reflex. For example, it is normal for the let-down reflex to happen in response to having a warm bath or shower, or to breast massage (see below). It can also happen in response to being close to your baby, hearing your baby cry or having a picture or something close by that smells of them.

Staying as relaxed as possible and having skin-to-skin contact with your baby can all help to trigger the let-down reflex. Taking some deep breaths and concentrating on your breathing can help with this. It will also help to express at your baby's cotside if this is possible, so you can be close to your baby. Speak to the staff looking after your baby about this.

Gentle breast massage

Breast massage before expressing can help to trigger the let-down reflex and stimulate your milk flow. You can do this by gently stroking, rolling, kneading, and tapping your breasts with warm hands before hand expressing and/or using a breast pump. You should do this for at least two minutes. Breast massage during expressing can help to drain your breasts.

Looking after yourself when expressing

Expressing milk for your baby can be a great way for parents to feel more empowered and in control of their baby's care. Many mothers also tell us how difficult and exhausting it can be to express, especially at night. This can be a particularly difficult experience if their baby is not with them.

It can be a very stressful time, but it is important that you try to stay as relaxed as possible when expressing, as this helps with the let-down reflex and milk flow. Some research has shown that higher stress levels may contribute to the delay of milk production. Some parents find that having a photograph or something that smells of their baby nearby when expressing helps. It may also help to distract yourself by doing something like reading a book or watching TV when you express. Listening to soothing music, meditation or taking time to focus on your breathing may also help you to relax.

Partners can help with expressing. For example, they can offer encouragement, help you to relax, or get equipment ready.

It is not unusual to find feeding your baby a difficult experience. In our survey of over 100 parents, over 60% said that their mental health got slightly or significantly worse during the experience of feeding their premature or sick baby. It is okay to find the experience difficult, no matter your situation. Every parent will have a very different experience of neonatal care.

It is important to talk to someone if feeding your baby is having an impact on your mental health. This could come from your feeding specialist, neonatal nurse, midwife, doctor, partner, or friends and family. We have lots of information about the impact having a premature or sick baby can have on your mental health, and where you can get support.

How to store expressed milk safely

You can store milk if your baby is unable to drink it at the time it is expressed. It is very important that expressed milk is stored safely. This is something that partners can be involved with. On the neonatal unit, breast milk is stored in fridges and freezers that only store infant milk.

Many units supply sterile disposable bottles and labels for you to use. You should label each container with your baby's name, the date and time of collection.

If you will be using your breast milk within 48 hours of expressing, you should refrigerate it. If you are at home, breast milk that has recently been expressed will keep in a refrigerator for 48 hours (24 hours if it is defrosted). The breast milk should be stored at the back of the fridge and not in the fridge door. This is because the temperature in the door compartments goes up and down when the fridge is opened and closed.

If you will not be using your breast milk within 48 hours of expressing, it should be frozen. Milk can be frozen for up to 6 months in a home freezer. If you are freezing your milk, always leave at least one centimetre of free space at the top of the milk container. This is because milk will expand when frozen.

If you are on the neonatal unit, ask the unit staff about the best way to safely refrigerate and freeze milk. Different units may have different guidelines.

Once your milk is defrosted, it will need to be used within 24 hours. Try to use small containers to freeze your milk so that no milk is wasted. Defrosted milk may have a slightly soapy or sour smell, but this will not be harmful to your baby.

Fortified b reast milk that has been supplemented with addi tives should be used with the following one to two feeds. It is not suitable f or freezing and defrosting.

Talk to the hospital staff looking after your baby for more guidance on storing and defrosting breast milk.

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Expressing milk can take time to learn. Find out how to express in neonatal care and how to look after yourself while expressing. Expressing means collecting breast milk which you can store and feed to your baby later. You can express milk by hand or with a breast pump, which can be electric or manual.

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Find more information about breastfeeding your premature or sick baby here, including how to get started and how to find support.

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Find out about breastfeeding your premature baby, including using expressed breast milk to start with before moving onto feeding them directly from the breast.

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-What infant formula to choose

-A simple guide to infant formula, follow-on formula and other infant milks

-How to make a bottle feed

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The different types of infant formula, and other infant milks, marketed for babies and young children can seem confusing when you see lots of different ones on the supermarket shelf, but the information you need as a parent or carer is really quite simple. The majority of infants who are formula fed or mixed fed should be given a first infant milk (sometimes called first stage or stage 1 milk) throughout the first year.
All infant formula on the UK market must meet compositional regulations, so all products are perfectly ok to feed a baby. More expensive brands still have to meet the same compositional standards as cheaper brands. In this section you will find answers to questions you may have about infant formula (or other infant milks) and some information on making up infant formula safely and responsive bottle feeding. More detailed information can be found in the infant milks section for health workers.

Infant milks:
A simple guide to infant formula, follow-on formula and other infant milks

This simple guide provides a summary of infant milks suitable for use across the first 2 years of life, a series of questions and answers to explain some of the common issues that families may ask about infant milks, and provides details of how to make up milks safely.

What infant formula to choose

A 10 step guide

Guide to bottle feeding
how to prepare infant formula and sterilise feeding equipment to minimise the risks to your baby

Guide to Bottle Feeding by UNICEF Baby Friendly and Better Health Start For Life and the NHS provides information on safe preparation and storage of infant milks.

It is important that infant milks are made up safely. Powdered infant formula is not sterile and needs to be made up a temperature which will kill any potential bacteria present. All equipment needs to be sterilised, and it is important to know how to make up and store milk safely.

These infographics summarise current NHS advice for making up powdered infant formula, and emphasise the need to use water that has been boiled in a kettle, and cooled to no less than 70 degrees C to kill any potential bacteria present.

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Infant milks for parents & carers - First Steps Nutrition Trust

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The different types of infant formula, and other infant milks, marketed for babies and young children can seem confusing when you see lots of different ones on the supermarket shelf, but the information you need as a parent or carer is really quite simple.

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How to make up a bottle of formula milk for your baby

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Video  - How to make up a bottle of formula milk 

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Video  - How to make up a bottle of formula milk 

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Healthier Together - a community initiative

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Improving the health of babies and children across Hertfordshire

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Improving the health of babies and children across Hertfordshire

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Advise and support on common childhood illnesses.

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Videos to help you support your baby

Knowing how best to support your baby's development can feel overwhelming, but you are not alone.

Here, you'll find a series of practical, step-by-step videos showing developmentally supportive techniques designed to increase your confidence during everyday activities from around term age to 3 months post term. From nurturing playtimes and bonding to mastering essential routines like nappy changing, gentle moving and carrying, tummy time and even ways to pick your baby up to promote their head control.

Each video is supported by a short introductory video. These contain general background about Ei SMART together with some pointers for the associated video.

Picking up and moving your baby

Introduction

Picking up and handling your pre-term baby or your term baby who has spent time in NICU

Moving and carrying your baby

Nappy changing

Introduction

Nappy changing for pre-term babies or your baby who has spent time in NICU

Playing

Introduction

How play supports your pre-term and term born baby's development, Early playtime tips for parents
Videos are funded by the National Lottery

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Building A Brighter Future For High Risk Infants: EiSMART is a transdisciplinary approach to early intervention for infants at risk of developmental delays.

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The importance of those first few days expressing for your baby

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button-term-baby Created with Sketch. term baby Group Created with Sketch. very early baby

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Building your baby’s immunity - Hertfordshire | Health for Under5s

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There are ways that you can help to support and build your baby’s immunity during pregnancy as well as when your baby is born. During Pregnancy Vaccination during pregnancy not only protects you but also provides protection to your unborn baby as antibodies are transferred via the placenta to baby. This immunity provides protection for […]

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Engaging interactive app designed for pre-school and primary school aged children to help them understand the neonatal environment

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Available on the Play store or App store.

Posters with QR codes are available on your unit.

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Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) staff will come to wards/clinics to talk to patients/relatives/carers regarding concerns that you may have.

The PALS team aims to help patients, carers, staff and the public by:

Listening to your concerns about your care and providing support and help to resolve them

Answering questions about your care in our hospitals

Providing 'on the spot help' by giving advice, information and support

Helping disabled patients who experience any difficulty in accessing our services

Passing on your compliments to our staff

Referring patients to the complaints department

Contacting PALS

Our PALS team, which covers the Lister, New QEII and Hertford County hospitals and the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, is based at the Lister. The team can be contacted on 01438 285811 or pals.enh-tr@nhs.net.

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Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) - East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

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Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) staff will come to wards/clinics to talk to patients/relatives/carers regarding concerns that you may have. The PALS team aims to help patients, carers, staff and the public by: Listening to your concerns about your care and providing support and help to resolve them Answering questions about your care [...]

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Helping babies 0-3 months

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APCP - AWAKE TIME IDEAS (1550) QR CODE APRIL 2024 NN conv (003)

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Free nappies for preterm babies