Bliss’ survey of every neonatal unit across Wales found that 85 per cent of babies cannot have at least one parent stay in a room with them overnight on the unit.
Neonatal care is the type of hospital care a baby receives if they are born premature or sick. But unlike other children’s wards, our research shows that in neonatal care parents in Wales cannot regularly stay overnight with their baby. This is true even when newborns spend weeks or months in the hospital, often without their parents by their side during the critical early stages of life.
A mum of two told us: “My eldest son was born unexpectedly at 32 weeks. He was in NICU[1] for 4 weeks but there were no facilities to stay with him at hospital. My younger son was admitted to PICU[2] at 4 days old but I could stay with him”.
Research by Bliss has highlighted that the main obstacle preventing neonatal units from providing parents with overnight accommodations is a lack of capital investment to increase the footprint of the units to build overnight accommodation, particularly in older units.
Bliss is therefore calling on the Welsh Government and NHS bodies to:
- Develop a small grants programme for neonatal units to buy new furniture
- Provide capital investment to enable units to renovate or construct additional space for parent bedrooms and associated facilities
- Ensure that the forthcoming perinatal service specification includes clear requirements on the provision of overnight accommodation for parents in enabling family integrated care
- Introduce a neonatal expenses scheme for parents who need financial support
- Invest in transitional care facilities to minimise separation
One parent said: “Leaving my babies in hospital was one of the hardest things I have ever done – the hospital was only thirty minutes to an hour away but I felt so utterly useless.”
Caroline Lee-Davey, Chief Executive of Bliss, said:
“We know that when parents are present and involved as much as possible, babies experience better physical and developmental outcomes. Equally, this is vital for the mental health and wellbeing of parents and for strong parent-infant bonding.
"Having a sick baby in the hospital can be an isolating and deeply distressing experience, made even more traumatic when parents are required to leave their newborn overnight.
"We urge the Welsh Government to allocate the necessary capital investment to ensure all neonatal units meet a basic standard for parent accommodation and that they introduce interim measures such as shorter term funds to support units and parents, enabling parents to stay with their baby until infrastructure can be put in place. This change is key to enabling parents to be active partners in their baby’s care, fostering an environment where they feel supported, valued, and empowered."
[1] Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
[2] Paediatric Intensive Care Unit
