A-Z of Services
Neonatal Unit
- Address: Croydon University Hospital 530 London Road, Croydon, CR7 7YE
- About us
- Ickle Pickles
- Meet the team
- Ward Rounds
- Visiting
- Parking
- What can you bring?
- Breastfeeding information
- Donations and fundraising
- Parents accommodation
- Registering your baby's birth
- NNAP
- Family integrated care
About us
The neonatal unit at Croydon cares for sick and premature babies. It is a Local Neonatal Unit within the South London Neonatal Network. We provide short term intensive care, high dependency care and special care for babies born after 27 weeks (or 28-week twins).
For babies likely to be before 27 weeks (or 28-week twins), then care is usually transferred to St. George’s Hospital London as they are our tertiary referral centre. The aim is to do this prior to delivery. Babies who require ventilation over 48 hours or need specialist surgical input, then they are likely to have their care transferred to St Georges or another tertiary unit. Once your baby is well enough, then they will return to us for ongoing care.
Ickle Pickles
Peer support information
An admission to the neonatal unit can be a challenging experience for a family. Although there is a Psychologist on the unit now, some families may feel more comfortable talking to someone who has their own personal experience of what it’s like to have a child on the unit and lots of parents have told us that speaking to other parents gives a great source of comfort and information. We are so pleased to let you know that we now have a network of ‘graduate’ neonatal parents who are able to meet with you if this would be helpful. Each graduate parent has attended a bespoke course to support them to become a neonatal peer supporter. The course is WHO-code compliant and in line with Baby Friendly Initiative standards in neonatal care.
Through the sharing of experiences, NICU graduate parents help each other to validate feelings, reduce isolation, and increase parents’ confidence in interacting with medical staff. Peer-to-peer support can help parents cope more effectively with the NICU experience.
You can read more about our wonderful parent’s journeys here.
Diana, Ickle Pickles Croydon NNU Peer Support Group member:
Hello my name is Diana and I'm a proud parent of 2 beautiful girls Renée and Sharaé who are both Croydon NICU graduates. The eldest only spending 3 days and the youngest spending 9 weeks. Like my other peer support workers I met some amazing parents (now friends) going through similar things, and it was just comforting to be able to share experiences and support one another through what I would call one of the toughest moments of my life. Having built a support network together made me see how valuable and needed this was in such an intense emotional environment. I don't think I would have got through it in the way I did if it wasn't for those ladies. Being a support worker now is my way of giving back to other parents who may not be as fortunate as we were, but because of us, they now have the opportunity to build and support each other in a similar way we did and still do.\
Ting, Ickle Pickles Croydon NNU Peer Support Group member:
Hi I’m Ting, proud mama of Daniel, Croydon NICU graduate Oct-21.
Till this day, I still have vivid memories of having to put on a brave face every day, despite feeling helpless inside. We were lucky enough to meet some incredible parents during our time at NICU, we shared every hurdle and celebrated every tiny milestone together. That level of understanding and mutual support is something I’ll cherish forever.
Every time I come back into the unit is a reminder of what I am grateful for, our beautiful boy and the friendships that we made. I now volunteer in the hope that current NICU parents can feel supported during their own challenging times and as testimony that one day in the future you’ll see light again.
Larresha – Ickle Pickles Croydon NNU Peer Support Group member:
I wanted to be part of the Croydon peer support group as, due to COVID-19, we did not have that sort of support and I want to make sure any new parent to the unit does not feel lost.
I love being part of the peer support group as it allows me to be part of a fantastic support system for parents now going through similar experiences.
Coffee mornings
In the Neonatal unit, babies are physically separated from their parents and this often has an impact on the physical, psychological, emotional health of both the parents and the babies. Our partnership with the Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity recognises that the neonatal experience affects parents as well as babies. Therefore, another element of our work focuses on the wellbeing and mental health of the parents.
The aim of these monthly coffee mornings, is to empower the parents by giving them the opportunity to talk openly and freely, without any judgment, about their experiences and support them with advice, to give them the confidence to speak to the Neonatal professionals and work together in the care of the baby.
These sessions have allowed parents to meet in a relaxed environment and have no judgements about their babies, especially those with health issues or special needs. They share tips and advice but also offer friendship and a shoulder to cry on if needed. These coffee mornings are inclusive, support loneliness, isolation and mental wellbeing.
With the support from Ickle Pickles, we now have a Peer Support Group to facilitate these monthly Coffee Mornings. These are parents who have had babies in neonatal care and understand the need for support during these difficult times. The Peers also aim to provide one to one support to parents currently on the unit.
If you would like to get involved or find out more information, please contact Julie, the Head of Peer Support at Ickle Pickles - julie@icklepickles.org
Meet the team
Allied Health Professionals
Since 2023 we have employed a team of Allied Health Care Professionals (Clinical Psychologist, Dietitian, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist and Speech and Language Therapist) to work with the medical team and families to support the best outcomes for babies.
The Allied Health Care Professionals are here to support and enable you on your journey as a parent getting to know your new baby(s), helping you to feel confident in recognising their cues, behaviour and abilities and enabling you to support and care for them to optimise their development.
The AHP team attend the weekly multidisciplinary ward rounds and are available during the week to support you and your baby.
Clinical Psychology
Our unit Clinical Psychologist supports families who have a premature or sick baby. There are lots of reasons why you might benefit from speaking with a psychologist while your baby is in hospital. The Psychologist is here to listen, think with you about what is happening, and help you find a way through your time on the unit. Clinical Psychologists are trained in a variety of psychological approaches that can be useful for both parents and children (siblings). Speaking to a Psychologist can help families to cope while their baby is admitted to the unit and the Psychologist can support parents to grow and strengthen the bond that they have with their baby, as well as thinking about how parents can continue to look after themselves.
While seeing a Psychologist is a new experience for a lot of people, it is quite normal on the unit due to the often very unexpected and stressful time that parents have. The Psychologist may have shorter conversations with families by the cot-side, or they may meet away from the babies’ cot-side to provide families with more privacy.
The Psychologist does not prescribe medication (like anti-depressants), but they are able to carry out psychological assessments and refer onto services who do prescribed medication if this would be helpful.
Dietetics
Dietitian’s make sure your baby is receiving optimal nutrition to support their growth and health outcomes. They can explain your baby's nutritional needs and growth and discuss any nutrition related questions you may have as you recover from pregnancy and birth and establish a breastmilk supply.
Occupational Therapy
The role of the occupational therapist is to assess and support infant neurodevelopment, through developmentally supportive care, pain management, sensory and motor support, supporting sleep cycles, behavioural cues, parent engagement and parental support. We will help you learn about your baby’s behavioural cues for interaction, play and movement, signs of stress or overload, and adapting neonatal care activities in response to their individual needs.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists are specialists in assessing and supporting your baby’s development and minimising any musculoskeletal impact that can occur when a baby is born prematurely. They consider your baby’s position, posture, movements, wake sleep cycles and behaviours and provide strategies, handling advice and early intervention to optimize developmental care. They also signpost to onward community services to support and optimize developmental outcomes.
Speech and Language Therapy
SLT’s can assess your baby's ability to suck and swallow and support them to overcome any challenges they may have with feeding. They are concerned with maintaining pleasant experiences around the face and mouth, encouraging positive tastes, mouth care and sucking to enable suck feeding. They also encourage early communication development through interaction, talking and singing opportunities to enable interaction and communication between parent and baby.
Ward Rounds
Ward rounds begin at approximately 0900 every day. They start from nursery 1 and move towards nursery 4. We encourage all parents to be present for ward rounds, as this enables us to really have you as partners in your babies care and enable updates on progress and investigations (if any) over the preceding 24 hours.
Some days there may be lots of people attending the ward round and this can feel overwhelming. Our Allied health team are often present to help with questions about nutrition, feeding and developmental care.
Visiting
Our neonatal unit's visiting policy is designed to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our vulnerable patients while allowing for necessary family engagement and support. Therefore, we have implemented an open policy towards parental access to their babies. We recognise the importance of parental involvement in the care of their newborns and understand that it plays a crucial role in fostering positive outcomes for both infants and their families. Our neonatal unit's visiting guidance embraces the principles of family-centered care.
Grandparents, siblings, and friends visiting the neonatal unit can have a positive impact on both the parents and the baby. It is important to recognise the value of involving extended family members and friends in the neonatal unit visiting process. Their presence can offer additional support, comfort, and encouragement to the parents during what can be a highly stressful and emotional time.
Not only do grandparents, siblings, and friends bring love and emotional support to the parents, but their presence also helps create a sense of community and connection within the neonatal unit. This connection is essential for the well-being of both the parents and the baby.
· Parents and nominated support partners can access their baby together without restrictions 24/7 and are not considered visitors but equal partners in their baby’s care.
· All other visitors can visit daily between 1500-1700 and 10-12 on weekends - only two people will be allowed at the cot side, one of whom should be a parent or the nominated support person. Children must be supervised at all times, and visitors should respect the privacy of other babies and families in the unit
· Please inform the nurse looking after your baby if you plan to bring visitors to the unit outside of the visiting hours, as we know all families have individual needs
· During high activity and clinical emergencies, we may restrict visiting or ask visitors to sit in the waiting area due to the limited space in the unit.
· Please remember to follow the Infection, Prevention, and Control measures such as handwashing and removing your coat before entering the clinical areas
· For the safety of all babies, all visitors must report to the neonatal receptionist, a nurse, or a doctor before entering the clinical areas
· Please note that this guidance is regularly reviewed by the neonatal team and the infection control team and may be changed to keep all babies safe
· If you have any concerns or questions about the visiting guidance, please speak to any nurse, doctor, or the Neonatal Matron
Parking
- Weekly special visitors parking Dispensation permit.
- Permit is valid only for 7 days and it costs £15.00.
- One permit per patient.
What can you bring?
We provide most things your baby will need during their stay and have some stock of most things for the first few days.
If it is less than 4 weeks until your baby was due:
Please bring along nappies and either cotton wool or baby wipes x2 (one for the face, one for the bottom. These will be stored under your baby’s incubator/cot.
If it is more than 4 weeks until your baby was due:
We will supply you with nappies and cotton wool during the first few days but after that please could you bring along nappies and either cotton wool or wipes for your baby.
These will be store under your baby’s incubator/cot.
If your baby weighs less than 1kg we will supply nappies for your baby until they areas over 1kg as it is not possible to buy tiny nappies in the shops.
During your time on SCBU you may be asked to bring other bits and pieces in such as barrier cream (such as Sudocrem) if needed. You may also wish to bring your own towel to use for baby’s first bath or you can use a hospital towel.
Cuddly toys – there is limited space for cuddly toys so we ask that you don’t bring too many in (you can swap them over if you wish) and that you only place one cuddly toy at a time in the baby’s incubator.
Please don’t bring anything you wouldn’t want to lose.
Mobile phone use
You must clean your mobile phone on entry to the unit using the wipes provided and use hand gel between touching your phone and touching your baby.
Please keep your phone on silent mode. It can be distracting to other parents and staff.
Please do not make phone calls in the nurseries; your time with your baby is precious and is best spent bonding and paying attention to their needs.
Breastfeeding information
We have an exclusive private room where mothers can express, and they can also express by the cot side. We offer expressing/breastfeeding packs to help give you and your baby the BEST START possible. If you require any support expressing or breastfeeding member of staff are happy to help. We have pumps for hire within the Unit.
Breast milk storage guidelines / breastfeeding
You can also hire a breast-milk expressing pump from the unit to take home if your baby will be on the unit for an extended period. A refundable £20 deposit will be taken from you and refunded after the pump is returned to the unit before your baby is discharged
Donations and fundraising
Parents accommodation
We have two rooming in rooms that are for parents to care for their child prior to going home in a supported environment.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, you may be asked to vacate the room at short notice.
There’s a parent's room on the unit and access to a microwave, kettle, toaster and coffee/tea provided. Children must be supervised at all times.
Registering your baby's birth
You are required by law to register your baby’s birth within 42 days (6 weeks) of their birth.
If your baby was born at Croydon University Hospital, then click on this link.
If you baby was born at another hospital, then you will need to register their birth with the local office.
NNAP
What is the National Neonatal Audit Programme?
The National Neonatal Audit Programme (NNAP) looks at the care babies receive if they are born early or unwell and need to be admitted to a neonatal unit. The animation outlines how the audit works and what resources it produces.
The video explains the data collection process and how to opt out of this data sharing as well as signposting to further information and sources of support. What is the National Neonatal Audit Programme?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8APQIpF1O0
Family integrated care
Family Integrated Care (FiCare)
Family Integrated Care (FiCare) promotes a culture of partnership between families and staff. We hope parents can be empowered to become confident, knowledgeable and independent in caring for their babies.
The central objective of FiCare is to encourage parents to spend extended periods of time in the NICU interacting with their babies, gaining knowledge, skills, and confidence in caring for their them. Parents become a member of the NICU team.
Families members, such as siblings and grandparents, are also encouraged to get involved as much as possible. Given that the NICU journey affects every one in the family, FiCare aims to strengthen family relationships and support each other during these difficult and often stressful time.
Supporting research
Preliminary research suggests that babies admitted to the NICU and cared for under the FiCare model grow faster and have less stress, spend fewer days in the NICU, and are less likely to be readmitted to hospital after discharge, compared to babies cared for primarily by staff. These babies are also more likely to be breastfed and for a longer time, which provides a host of long-term health benefits.
The improved confidence and skills of parents in FiCare increases parental readiness for the transition from hospital to home, improves management abilities at home, and lowers parental anxiety. Finally, parental involvement helps staff feel more confident in the abilities of the parent, which will help facilitate getting everyone home as soon as possible.*(Source: https://familyintegratedcare.com/).
The framework of FiCare provides a structure for implementation in the neonatal units and networks. Parents are integrated into all aspects of care. These includes: a daily care plan, cotside teaching and training with nurses, infant care and peer to peer support.
Join our monthly parent support coffee mornings
In the NICU, babies are physically separated from their parents and we recognise that this experience can hugely impact the physical, psychological, emotional health of both parents and babies.
With the support from the Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity, we now have a Peer Support Group to facilitate these monthly Coffee Mornings. These are parents who have had babies in neonatal care and understand the need for support during these difficult times. The Peers also aim to provide one-to-one support to parents currently on the unit.
The aim of these coffee mornings is to empower parents by giving them the opportunity to talk openly and freely, without any judgment, about their experiences and support them with advice and confidence to speak to the NICU professionals and work together in the care of the baby.
These sessions have allowed parents to meet in a relaxed environment and have no judgements about their babies, especially those with health issues or special needs. It is a safe space to share tips and advice, but also offers friendship and a shoulder to cry on if needed, ultimately reducing feelings of loneliness and supporting your mental wellbeing.
If you would like to get involved or find out more information, simply contact Ickle Pickles Head of Peer Support at julie@icklepickles.org.