NICU redevelopment

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has undergone a major redevelopment as part of the hospital’s Transforming Critical Care project, supported by our charity CW+.

We have increased the number of cots on our unit and transformed the environment and facilities for babies, their families and our staff. The unit was designed with input from parents who have experience of caring for their baby on the NICU. Examples of this include provision of a sink for younger siblings to wash their hands and the flexibility to make each cot space private when needed or open to allow parents to support one another. 

Phase 1 of the new unit opened in February 2020. This comprises two new intensive care nurseries and a new reception area with dedicated spaces for parents, siblings and staff. 

Phase 2, which includes two new high dependency nurseries and a treatment/isolation room, opened in November 2020. 

Phase 3, which completed the redevelopment, opened in September 2021. This phase provides two new special care nurseries, a room for mothers to express their breast milk, a baby bathing room and rooms for parents to stay with their babies as they are preparing for discharge home. 

Our new unit would not have been possible without the generous support of our donors, to whom we are very grateful.