Welcome to the Somerset Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (SNICU). We
hope the following information will be beneficial to you during your stay.
Please feel free to ask any questions at any time. Staff are here to help.
VISITING
Open visiting for parents, however, we ask that you avoid visiting
during nurse hand-over times, we ask you to wait in the reception
during the following times:
0730 – 0745
1315 – 1345
2045 – 2115
You will be asked to wait in the reception / parents area for 20 – 30
minutes to maintain patient confidentiality.
Visiting times for grandparents and all other visitors is as follows:
2.00pm – 8.00pm
Due to limited space we ask that you only have MAX FOUR people
(including yourselves) at a cotside at one time, please do not embarrass
yourselves or staff by ignoring this and being asked to wait outside.
Please remove coats before entering the unit and hang them in the st left cot entrance to unit) DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLE waiting room (1
IN YOUR POCKETS.
Please do not have frequent changes of visitors, particularly in the first
few days and when your baby is unstable as this may distress your
baby. We would suggest only parents & grandparents visit in the first
48 hours or very close family or friends.
Children under 16 yr. are not permitted to visit unless they are siblings. Friends and family may not visit when parents are not present
unless prior arrangements have been made with parents and senior
nursing staff.
Please do not visit if you are unwell due to the potential spread of
infection.
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HANDWASHING
Hand washing is the single most important method of reducing the
spread of infection. Therefore, please wash your hands each time you
enter the unit and before touching your baby. You must remove
wristwatches and bracelets before hand washing.
Please note the hand rub at the entrance is sufficient if you are not in
direct contact with the baby otherwise the nursing staff will ask you to
wash your hands.
SECURITY
The unit is very security conscious; video camera monitoring is in place
at all entrances and exits.
Entry to the unit from outside is by intercom system. Inside, the door
to the unit is locked at all times. To gain access you must ring the bell
located by the side of the door and wait for an answer. Please only use
the front door or the link corridor entrances. Please note staff may not
be able to answer immediately, so please be patient. Thank you.
Please note: Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust cannot be held
responsible for loss of valuables. Please sign Liability for loss of
property & hand to a member of staff.
PARKING (Q PARK) / REDUCED FEE
Your baby needs to be resident on the unit for one week, before
applying. Then you will need to fill in a Reduced Parking Fee Request
form. Please speak to a member of staff for details. Please be aware
that you may only park in the visitor car parking areas, clamping is
in progress if you park in unauthorised areas.
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DOCTORS WARD ROUNDS
Ward rounds take place on the unit each morning at approximately
08.30- 09.30hrs. You are very welcome to attend when the doctor is
examining your baby, however, we ask that if your baby is sharing a
room with others, for reasons of confidentiality, please wait outside in
the reception area while the other babies are being examined.
Your baby’s medical care will be the responsibility of one of our
consultants, please ask a member of staff when they are in the unit if
you wish to speak to them.
HANDLING YOUR BABY IN ITU
We would encourage parents to cuddle their baby as soon as his/her
condition allows. However your baby is at a vulnerable stage and too
much handling may not be good, as disappointing as it may be we
would request only Mum and Dad and no other visitor handle the baby.
Please not Toys are not allowed in incubators and parents are advised
to only bring in one small toy for there baby. This is to reduce the risk
of infection. You baby’s toy can be hung at the end of the incubator,
please see separate leaflet enclosed in your admission pack.
LOW DEPENDENCY
As your baby grows and his/ her condition is stable he/she will move
into the low dependency room. Provided parents are in agreement,
grandparents only may be allowed to cuddle your baby.
BREAST PUMPS
For mums who are expressing breast milk for their babies but are not
resident, there is a breast pump hiring service available. A refundable
deposit of ?20 is required and the pump must be returned when your
baby is ready for discharge. If you wish to hire a breast pump after
your baby’s discharge, please ask nursing staff for the relevant
information.
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PARENTS AREAS
There is a small sitting room available for resident parents and for
those who are staying all day, it is not open for visitors.
A quiet room is also available for parents who wish to spend some time
away form the unit, please ask nursing staff about these rooms.
MOBILE PHONES
Please make sure that you turn your mobile phone off before entering
the unit as there is a potential risk of interference occurring to
equipment in use.
SOCIAL WORK SERVICES
If you wish to see a social worker for whatever reason, nursing staff will
be happy to arrange this for you.
CAR SEATS
Infant car seats are the safest way to transport your baby in a car.
Before you baby is discharged please ensure you know how to fix your
car seat in your car, staff on the unit are not responsible and Taunton &
Somerset NHS Trust cannot be held responsible if your car seat is not
fitted correctly.
CONFIDENTIALLITY
We are unable to give information about babies to any one but the
parents. Please refrain from asking about other babies or looking in
other incubators/cots.
We only give information to parents over the telephone. Please ask
family and friends to contact you or your partner at home.
The direct line to the unit is 01823 342575 for intensive care room and
01823 342577 for low dependency room . Please feel free to phone at
any time, day or night.
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CATERING ARRANGEMENTS
A kitchen is provided for your convenience. It contains a microwave,
fridge and kettle. In addition, there is a restaurant, coffee shop and
two League’ of Friends shops on the hospital site. Please ask the staff
for directions.
OPENING TIMES:-
RESTAURANT 0700-1000 BREAKFAST
1200-1345 LUNCH
1730-1945 SUPPER
COFFEE SHOP Mon-Fri 0930-1700
Sandwiches, snacks
LEAGUE of FRIENDS SHOP Mon-Fri 0930-1630 &
(Old Building Only) 1845-2015
Newspapers, sweets,
Toiletries food etc. Sat & Sun 1400-1600
It may be possible for the postnatal area, which cared for you after
delivery to provide meals for a day or two after transfer to residential
accommodation. Please inform the ward if you intend to return for a
meal.
We regret the ward areas will be unable to provide food beyond the th10 postnatal day
Resident accommodation
The Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust provides some accommodation for
parents of infant cared for on the unit.
The accommodation provided by the neonatal unit is intended for
women who feel they have sufficiently recovered from delivery to be
alone in residential accommodation and have been discharged from the
post-natal ward.
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Midwifery care and advice is available for 10-14 days following delivery. Normally, the ward which is providing post-natal care, will continue to offer advice and care as required.
However, if you intend to go home for a period of time, please ensure you inform the ward staff who can arrange a community midwife visit if required. The following information is provided to assist you in planning your stay.
Both parents are welcome to stay in the neonatal unit accommodation when a room is available. We will endeavour to make your stay as comfortable as possible and maintain a very high level of cleanliness. Please help us to uphold these standards by keeping your room as tidy as possible to enable the ward assistants to clean your room as required. If you have any queries regarding your stay with us, please ask the Housekeeper or any member of staff.
Whilst we make every effort to ensure you are able to stay with your infant(s), we do only have 3 parent and baby rooms attached to the neonatal unit, and at times need to prioritise who stays in them. We always give priority to parents’ whose infant is sick or preparing for discharge home. This may mean that whilst we will try our best to accommodate you in the parent and baby rooms, we may need to ask you to vacate them for the above reason. Very often parents are able to stay in rooms on the children’s unit for a limited period of time when
this situation occurs – if all rooms available to us are full we may ask
you to go home for a short time and return when there is a room available again. Of course if there is a room available you are always welcome to stay, just ask a member of staff.
If you have booked to come in to a room and are unable to come, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can re-allocate it.
The ward assistants need to have access to your rooms on a daily basis to change the litter bins and check the sanitary bins. Sinks are cleaned daily.
Please not that unfortunately we are unable to accommodate siblings.
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KEYS
The room keys will be issued by the neonatal unit and should be
returned each time that you leave the accommodation. If you lock the
room while you are in residence, please do not leave the key in the
lock; this is to allow access in an emergency.
Please do not take the key off the premises.
Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire / Exit cards
We value your opinion. Please tell us what you think, by completing the
parent satisfaction questionnaire / exit cards, which are found in your
child’s nursing folder at the end of there bed. Completing this will
enable our services to meet babies / parents needs. Thank you.
PHILOSOPHY OF THE NEONATAL UNIT
‘Our aim is to provide a quality service which meets the needs of the
individual’s baby and their family’
By
? providing appropriate emotional support during stressful
periods
? explaining and listening
? teaching parents, to enable them with support and guidance, to
participate in the care of their baby
? liaise closely with specific community staff e.g. midwives,
health visitors and social workers
? nursing staff maintaining high standards of care, promoting
learning opportunities
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? supporting families following the loss of their baby, involving
the chaplaincy and support groups as requested.
NAMED NURSE ?????
The named nurse is the person responsible for planning your baby’s care from admission to discharge in accordance with the Patients
Charter.
She/he may not always be caring directly for your baby, associate
nurses who work closely with your Named Nurse will help to care for
your baby.
You will meet your Named Nurse within 24 hours of your baby’s
admission to the neonatal unit and participate in planning the care.
Your Named Nurse is:-
Suzanne Pilkington is Matron of the neonatal unit and will be happy to
discuss any problems or issues.
PARENTS
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU & YOUR VISITORS REMOVE WATCHES,
BRACELETS AND WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY WITH PINK HIBISCRUB
LIQUID.
USE FOOT PEDAL TO OPEN THE BIN PROVIDED, PLEASE LOWER THE
LID SLOWLY TO REDUCE THE NOISE.
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Neonatal parents Library
We have a small library for parents to use whilst their baby is here on the unit.
Books are kept in the low dependency room
Please see a member of staff if you wish to borrow a book.
Parents are responsible for books loaned to them and they must be returned prior to discharge or transfer to another hospital
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING LEAFLETS ENCLOSED IN YOUR
PACK:
NOTE FROM MATRON
LIABILITY FOR LOSS OF PROPERTY
CHICKEN POX / SHINGLES / COLD SORES INFORMATION
TOYS
EXIT CARD
BABY / TODDLER SUPPORT GROUP INFORMATION
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