Neonatal care and Neonatal units
Do you know about Neonatal Units and Neonatal Care?
This short documentary video from Spoons, a Neonatal Support Charity, gives an insight into how neonatal care impacts on families (filmed at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Greater Manchester).
North West Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (NWNODN)
All neonatal units in Greater Manchester are part of the North West Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (NWNODN).
The role of the NWNODN is to provide impartial advice and expertise to all providers and commissioners within the three localities in the North West. The principle of the network is to work together to provide the highest standard of care for babies and families.
The NWNODN have a fantastic website with a huge amount of supportive information about neonatal services including details about each of the neonatal units within Cheshire and Mersey and plenty of parent resources to support you if you do require the support of neonatal services. We recommend you head over to the website and see what’s on offer. You will also find lots of links to national groups supporting neonatal care.
Hey it’s OK
When you have a baby your life changes immediately. When you have a premature or sick baby you are thrown into a world that you probably didn’t know existed.
A hugely helpful resource for all parents experiencing neonatal care which has been produced by parents, for parents is a document called Hey It’s OK.
An introduction to Hey it’s OK…
Spoons
Spoons is a charity which supports families who experience neonatal care in Greater Manchester. Our aim is to support families via a holistic approach and alleviate the stress and isolation associated with neonatal care.
Our primary focus is on supporting the whole family, practically and emotionally from admission to the neonatal unit and beyond, alongside the NHS staff whose focus is to concentrate on the provision of clinical care. We offer a range of support services for families to access on the neonatal units and within the community, including the provision of:
- Peer to peer support led by parents who have had a baby in neonatal care. This service is available at the cot side on the neonatal unit and at community groups
- Outreach sessions with health care professionals, including the provision of EMDR and counselling
- Sibling support so the wider family feel fully supported
- Provision of activities, this includes baby massage, yoga and weaning sessions specifically for families who have a baby recently discharged from neonatal care
- Financial help with travel costs for families facing hardship
In response to COVID-19 we have adapted our services and whilst we are still able to provide the above some of our resources are now only available remotely. This will change as soon as it is safe to do so.
The Spoons YouTube Channel has lots of videos about Neonatal care.
Have you been informed that your baby may be born pre-term (premature)?
If you have been told that there is a possibility your baby may be born prematurely, you may wish to read the information in the document here:
