The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust Information for parents Parent s Information Department of Child Health Framlingham Neonatal Unit Tel: 01473 703070 DPS ref: 01990-17(RP) Issue 5: April 2017 Review: March 2020 The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, 2007-2017. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced in whole, or in part, without the permission of the copyright owner.
Welcome The Framlingham Neonatal Unit is situated next to the maternity block (Entrance 7 or 8). There are two main nurseries and the unit is equipped to care for 20 babies. On admission to the unit your baby will be placed under the care of one of the eight consultant paediatricians: Dr Kevin O Neill Dr Aniapravan Dr Chris Yale Dr Matthew James Dr Jackie Buck Dr Pravin Desai Dr D Fernando Dr A McDonald Also, your baby will be allocated a team of nurses who will be responsible for coordinating your baby s care and will endeavour to meet any needs you may have as a family. They will keep you informed of your baby s progress and arrange for you to meet with his or her consultant paediatrician as the need arises. If you have any questions or concerns while you are on the unit, please feel free to talk to any of the nurses or the ward matron. Ward rounds are carried out daily and are led by the consultant on-call or an experienced registrar. You are welcome to stay with your baby while the team are discussing his or her care, but will be asked to leave when other babies are discussed in order to maintain their privacy. This will also apply during nursing handover between 7.30 and 8 am, 1.30 and 2 pm and 7.30 and 8 pm. Page 3
Telephone enquiries You are welcome to telephone any time of the day or night for an update on your baby s care. We will only give information to parents so if family or friends ring to enquire about your baby we will refer them to you for information. The unit telephone numbers are: Main desk: 01473 703070 Intensive care nursery: 01473 702723 Special care nursery: 01473 702719 Mobile phone texts and calls can be made or received in the seating area at the entrance to the unit. Visiting policy We have an open visiting policy so please visit your baby whenever you wish. However, other visitors may only visit between 3 4 pm and 6 7 pm, accompanied by you or your partner, unless you have completed the parent s care plan and given other individuals permission to visit without you. Due to the restricted space in the nurseries, we ask that only two visitors be at the cot side at any one time including the parent. If you have other children, you may visit as a family at the discretion of the shift leader. If you have more than one visitor please ask them to wait in Maternity Reception. To minimise the risk of infection, children under 12 years old other than your own are not permitted. This also applies to relatives or friends with colds or other forms of infection. On entering the unit all visitors are requested to hang their coats in the corridor, having first removed any valuables from the pockets. Page 4
In order to maintain each baby s privacy, visitors are asked to refrain from approaching the cots of other babies unless invited to do so by the parents. Keep noise levels and movement in the nurseries to a minimum so that babies are not unnecessarily disturbed. Rest assured we will not let any visitors in to see your baby unless you are present or you have given your permission for them to visit in your absence. To give the babies a period of complete rest, we maintain a quiet time whenever possible between 4 6 pm. During this time handling of any babies is kept to a minimum. We encourage all visitors to use public transport to the hospital when possible. Reduced car parking fees are available for parents whose babies are on the unit for a long time. Please see a member of staff to obtain a car parking application form or refer to the information pack you were given when your baby was admitted. Infection To minimise the risk of infection all visitors to the unit must wash their hands on entering the nursery. To reduce the risk of infection to your baby a single washable soft toy may be placed in their cot or incubator. Hearing screening It is widely recognised that for babies to reach their full potential with regard to language development it is important that any hearing problems are detected at the earliest opportunity. Consequently all babies will have an early hearing screening test. One of the nurses responsible for screening will discuss this with you and gain your consent before the screening is performed. Page 5
Medication A small number of medications that may be an essential part of your baby s treatment have a very minimal risk of causing hearing problems. To reduce this risk such medications are given following strict guidelines and, where necessary, blood levels are monitored to ensure appropriate therapeutic levels are maintained. Facilities available on the Neonatal Unit Parent rooms You and your partner may be allocated the use of one of the rooms which are located down the first corridor on the left hand side of the unit. While you are resident we ask that you adhere to the visiting policy. There may be occasions when we have to ask you to vacate the room for another parent s use. Kitchen Meals are provided for resident mothers and those mothers who live outside the area. All meals are provided on Brook Ward and a menu will be given daily. You are welcome to use the tea- and coffee-making facilities at any time beverages are supplied by the hospital. This facility cannot be extended to your visitors. Parents room This room is located just inside the unit and is for parents use only. Quiet room This room is used for consultation between paediatricians, nurses and parents and should not be used as a general sitting area. It is located at the far end of the unit on the right-hand side. Toilets Mothers may use the toilet facilities by the cubicles and in the parent bay. Other visitors should use the facilities to the right of Page 6
the entrance. This toilet is wheelchair accessible. Remember to always wash your hands after using the toilet. Feeding room We have a feeding room with comfortable chairs for your use. It is situated behind the ward clerk s desk. This room is for the use of mothers only. Milk kitchen This is located opposite the feeding room. Sterilising equipment and electric breast pumps are available to use on the unit. If you have any concerns about cleanliness or hygiene please bring them to the attention of the shift leader as soon as possible. Security To ensure safety for you and your family, we ask that you never leave your baby unattended outside of the nurseries. If you are resident in a parent room, please return your baby to the nursery before leaving the unit for any reason. You should inform the member of staff, with whom you leave your baby, of your whereabouts (for reasons of safety in case of a fire). All staff caring for your baby within the Neonatal Unit will have either a C, M or duck logo printed on their identity badge. Any person not in possession of one of these badges should be asked to identify themselves and have their identity confirmed by a member of unit staff. Your baby will be wearing two identity bracelets when an inpatient. We ask that these are not removed until after your baby has gone home. If you are aware that a bracelet is missing, please inform the nurse responsible for the care of your baby. Page 7
We have a security system in place, which requires you to request access to and departure from the unit. All of your visitors should be identified to the staff at the door. Be careful not to let someone in with you who you do not know. Delays may occur at busy periods so please be patient. This system has been installed with your baby s safety in mind. The user groups support the Trust s policy of zero tolerance of violence or abusive behaviour. Please treat all visitors, families and staff with courtesy and respect. Additional information Parent information board This is situated in the entrance of the unit displaying information about support for parents and topics of interest. Nappies You will need to provide your baby with nappies, cotton wool, cotton buds, clothes if required, and bottle / teats if appropriate, during his or her stay on the unit. Baby clothes You are required to provide your baby with clothes during his or her stay on the unit. Siblings Brothers and sisters are welcome on the unit, but they should not be left unsupervised, under any circumstances, in any area of the unit. Hospital Advice and Complaints Service (HACS) HACS is available to help with any concerns you may have if you do not receive a satisfactory response from the unit staff. The service can be contacted on 01473 702693 or freephone 0800 328 7624. Chaplains The hospital chaplains support people of all faiths and provide a 24-hour on-call service. The hospital chapel is situated in the Page 8
North Zone and is open day and night for quiet prayer and contemplation. Discharge (Going home) Your baby will be ready for discharge when he or she is gaining weight, feeding well and keeping warm, but there may be other factors that will influence this process. Your consultant or the nursing staff will discuss these with you. Restaurants and shops (Open times and facilities may vary.) South Zone: Costa Coffee specialises in sandwiches, snacks and beverages. Opening times are 8 am 8 pm, Monday Friday, 9 am 7 pm on Saturdays and 9 am 6 pm on Sundays. It is closed at weekends. Deli Marché specialises in sandwiches, snacks and beverages. Opening times are 6.30 am 4 pm, Monday Friday. It is closed at weekends. The Stock Shop: Open Monday Friday from 9.30 am 5 pm and Saturday from 1 pm 5.30 pm selling ladies clothing and accessories. WH Smith: Open Monday Friday, 7 am 8 pm, Saturdays 9 am 8 pm and Sundays 9 am 6 pm, selling newspapers, magazines, soft drinks, snacks, cards and gifts. There is another WH Smith situated at the Outpatients entrance (Central Zone). Central Zone: Deli Marché specialises in sandwiches, snacks and beverages. Opening times are 8.30 am 5 pm, Monday Thursday, 8.30 am 4 pm on Fridays. It is closed at weekends. Page 9
North Zone: The Courtyard Restaurant is open Monday Friday from 7.30 am 4.30 pm including Christmas Day and Boxing Day. During weekdays there is a specialist baguette and pizza bar at lunchtimes. Hot and cold desserts and snacks are also available. How to find Framlingham Neonatal Unit: Enter the hospital building at the Maternity entrance (8) and follow the signs to Framlingham Neonatal Unit. If you would like the full Ipswich Hospital map please go to www.myhospitalmap.org.uk/ipswich/ IpswichHospital.aspx or pick up a printed copy at the Maternity reception. Page 10
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