Visiting information

Location

Get directions to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, along with information on parking. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is located on the 3rd Floor at the front of the hospital. Please take lift bank B or the stairs to the 3rd Floor. 

Who can visit and when

• Parents are welcome on the unit at any time of day or night. Siblings may also come with their parents. During winter months, siblings under the age of 11 are not permitted to visit any part of the neonatal unit, including the reception waiting area. This is because of the increased risk of viral infections in young children during the winter, which could pose a risk to the babies on NICU. 
• Parents may also nominate up to four adults to accompany them to see their baby between the hours of 3pm and 7pm. A maximum of two people are allowed at the baby's cotside at the same time. 
• If parents are unwell, they should not come to the hospital. Please discuss with a senior member of nursing staff on the neonatal unit.

Ward rounds

Parents are encouraged to join ward rounds to participate in the care of their baby. Parents will be asked to wear sound-isolating headphones during handovers and during ward rounds when other babies are being seen. This is to preserve the confidentiality of each baby’s case. Handovers and ward rounds usually occur between 8am and 12 noon, and between 8pm and 9pm.

Entering the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

A security system is in place throughout the entire neonatal and maternity department, such that you will need to press a buzzer by the entry/exit doors to be let in or out. This is for the babies’ safety. CCTV is operational to allow identification of parents and visitors. On entering the unit, please remove your coat, any jewellery on hands and wrists (except wedding rings) and roll up your sleeves to your elbow. Lockers and coat hooks are provided at reception. Then please wash your hands at the hand wash station and rub them with the antibacterial gel provided before proceeding to your baby’s nursery. This is to minimise transmission of infection. You will be shown how to do this on your first visit. Please use antibacterial gel again on entering and when leaving your baby's nursery. 

Parent group

All parents of babies on the neonatal unit are welcome to join this discussion group that meets every Friday at 2pm. This is an opportunity for parents to meet, ask questions and obtain more support. The group is led by our clinical psychologist.

Parent rooms

Rooms are available on the neonatal unit for parents to stay. These are for parents who are about to take their baby home, in order that they can take over all care for their baby with nursing support if required. There are also a number of rooms off the neonatal unit but within the hospital grounds for parents to stay. These are allocated on a case by case basis, with priority given to parents of babies receiving intensive care and/or who live a long distance from the hospital.