North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) NHS Foundation Trust has opened its first neonatal transitional care areas for babies who require some additional hospital care in the first few days of their lives.
The new areas have been developed at the West Cumberland Hospital and the Cumberland Infirmary to enable new mums to stay with their babies while they are being cared for.
Having access to this service helps to support stronger bonding as the babies no longer need to be separated from their mothers while having care and lays the foundation for future relationships.
Lyn Durrant, assistant director of nursing for children and young people at NCIC, said: “The aim of the neonatal transitional care ward will be to keep mothers and babies together, despite the additional medical interventions that the babies will be receiving.
“We know that early bonding between parents and their babies is so important, and we always try to encourage this where possible.
“It is for this reason that we are so excited to open the new neonatal transitional care areas, as they are designed in such a way to keep babies close to mum, with care brought right to the bedside.”
Staffed by midwives with support from the Special Care Baby Unit, the new areas will provide additional support for babies who require tube feeding, intravenous antibiotics and those that are born a little early or those with a low birth weight.
Lyn said: “Our maternity teams work closely with the Special Care Baby Unit to ensure care like this can be provided in the best way possible, with the key aim of keeping mothers and babies together.”
The new pathway is part of a national drive and part of the trust’s maternity improvement plan.
