About the service
The Neonatal unit is part of the Northern Neonatal Network; providing care for preterm infants across the Northern Region.
SCBU has an 8 cot capacity; providing care for infants born greater than 32 weeks’ gestation. There are facilities for respiratory support and short-term ventilation pending retrieval by the specialist transport service (NnETS) of the Northern Neonatal Network (NNN).
Who we are
We are a team of Paediatric Doctors, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (ANNP’s) and Neonatal Nurses based within the Special Care Baby Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Gateshead.
What we do
- We provide care for premature and sick newborn infants
- We support Midwives and parents in caring for babies with extra needs on the postnatal ward, to help prevent mothers and babies being separated unnecessarily;
- Provide a Transitional Care service to enable mothers and babies to be nursed together; this is led by a team of ANNP’s and overseen by medical staff;
- ANNP attendance at high risk deliveries when required;
- Stabilisation of ventilated infants prior to transfer to regional unit;
- We aim to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for babies who have complex needs; meeting all of their needs, liaising and working with other members of the multidisciplinary team;
- Support parents in caring for their sick/premature infant;
- Provide facilities to enable parents/carers to room-in with their babies prior to discharge;
- Provide parent craft in readiness for discharge;
- Parents and siblings are encouraged to spend time with their new baby on SCBU; to encourage a close and loving relationship. All other family members (above the age of 16) have restricted visiting times and for security reasons, would only be allowed to visit in the presence of a parent.
The Staff on the Neonatal Unit believe that the Parent/Infant relationship is central to their philosophy of providing family integrated care.
In order to achieve this, they work as a coherent multidisciplinary team in assessing, implementing and evaluating care. The Staff aim to provide the optimum environment for the development of a good Parent/Infant relationship, by recognising the importance of involving parents and other family members in all aspects of care of their baby.
