In 2022 Royal Preston Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were appointed by the North West Neonatal Operational Delivery Network as a Family Integrated Accredited Unit
Families are the most important part of each baby's neonatal journey which is why at Royal Preston Hospital we embed Family Integrated Care into every aspect of neonatal care delivery.
'Family Integrated Care is a model that supports and educates parents and carers to become integral participants in their baby's care from the time of admission to the unit in partnership with the neonatal team'.
We aim to work in partnership with families to empower, educate and support parents to become independent, confident care providers, facilitating strong close and loving attachments from the moment their baby is born through to being discharged home.
The FICare model creates space for necessary medical care whilst facilitating the nurturing bond and love that only parents can provide for their baby, ensuring that they can be a family as soon as possible; (BAPM 2021). Evidence shows that baby's looked after this way have:
- Fewer infections
- Reduced antibiotic usage
- Increased breast milk feeding
- Earlier discharge home
- Reduced readmissions
- Improved parental wellbeing.
From the moment of admission as a team we support parents to carry out the day to day non medical cares for their baby's such as taking a temperature, changing a nappy, providing mouthcare and feeding baby's through nasogastric tubes. We understand the thought of this can be quite overwhelming and frightening for some parents especially when their baby's are born very small or sick but please feel reassured the nurses teach parents all these skills at the parents pace and at a level they feel comfortable with. We recognise how every milestone your baby reaches in their neonatal journey are incredibly special and so we will always work to ensure you are present for your baby's weighs and all those important 1st moments such as being dressed, bathed and when being transferred to a cot.
Every baby that is admitted to the unit will receive a baby passport, which is accessed via Vcreate. The passport ensures that neonatal staff are aware what parents feel confident to do for their baby, which is extremely useful when baby's are transferred to another hospital. When you log into your Vcreate account go to forms and you will see the Neonatal Passport there. Click onto the passport and you can start to complete your babys details and upload a photo of your baby. Every time a page is completed click on the Save button. If there is anything within the passport that staff have not discussed with you then please mention this to the staff member caring for your baby and we can go through that with you. Once you feel confident and competent with each aspect of your babys cares then we will sign the passport of confirm this for you. Any questions about the passport please ask a member of staff.
You can find additional information below:
