Parental access during COVID-19

On this page you will find:

• Bliss’ position on parental access and involvement
• Best practice and shared learning from neonatal units and networks
• Latest updates to this page

Bliss Statement

In response to the growing intensity of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals across the UK have severely limited who is able to come onto hospital sites in an attempt to reduce the spread of infections.

Ensuring the safety of vulnerable babies on neonatal units during the COVID-19 outbreak is paramount. But parents are not visitors, and they need to continue to be partners in delivering their baby’s care and decision making.

Download our full statement below.

Bliss now have a letter of support that can be sent to Trusts to outline the importance of removing barriers to parents being with their baby. Contact us to request a letter.

Best practice and shared learning

We know that neonatal services across the UK are working hard to implement policies which support continued parental involvement, while also aligning with national and local guidance which is emerging in response to the challenges caused by COVID-19.

We have grouped together some helpful documents and local examples of best practice. If you have a resource your unit or network has developed that you want to share, please send it to hcp@bliss.org.uk

• BAPM Frequently Asked Questions Within Neonatal Services includes significant detail about facilitating parental involvement.
• The West Midlands Neonatal ODN and East Midlands Neonatal ODN guideline on managing neonatal patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 includes recommendations on ensuring both parents can still be involved in their baby’s care, with no restriction to contact time.
• The North West Neonatal ODN have set out a policy which allows both parents to be partners in delivering care and does not limit access time. All units in the network have agreed to this policy as a minimum.
• Tiny Lives charity, which provides support to families with a baby cared for at the RVI in Newcastle, have a helpful Top Tips for parents to support their continued involvement in their baby's care.
• BAPM have a range of family-integrated care resources available on their website, which is being regularly updated.

Updates to this page

16 October 2020

• Bliss letter of support made available to neonatal units

6 June 2020

• Bliss position updated to reflect the change in guidance in some areas of the UK which require those attending hospital to wear a face covering.
• Additional recommendations added to align with RCPCH and BAPM in supporting parents to remove face coverings while cotside with their baby.

7 May 2020

• Bliss position updated to reflect new guidance from BAPM on parental presence and involvement during COVID-19. The position statement also includes a new recommendation around parental testing.
• Best practice list updated.

5 May 2020

• Best practice section added.

30 April 2020

• Bliss position statement updated to include: specific recommendations for parental access for parents of twins and multiples, developed with Twins Trust; updated current guidance section referencing new Neonatal Transport Group guidelines and updated impact evidence for developmental outcomes associated with parental involvement.

8 April 2020

• First version of the Bliss position on parental access and involvement during COVID-19 published.