Tunbridge Wells Hospital neonatal unit receives Bliss Baby Charter Accreditation

Posted on October 28, 2019

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On 12 September, Tunbridge Wells Hospital became the fifth hospital in England to receive a prestigious award for their neonatal unit from the UK’s leading premature and sick baby charity Bliss.

The Bliss Baby Charter Accreditation awards neonatal units that deliver high quality care to babies and support for their families. The Bliss Baby Charter was developed by Bliss to help hospitals caring for premature and sick babies to assess the care they provide and identify areas for improvement. Throughout the accreditation process, Bliss recognises and rewards excellence in the care delivered by neonatal units all the while supporting units to improve their practice.

After the assessment, Bliss found that Tunbridge Wells Hospital had good accommodation for parents to stay on site with their baby, facilities for siblings and excellent support.

At a ceremony held on the unit on 30 October, Bliss Baby Charter Project Lead, Chelsie Letts, presented staff with a plaque and certificate marking their achievement.

Julia Moat, Matron, said: "The Neonatal unit team at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital is extremely proud of the fact that we have been awarded the Bliss Baby Charter Accreditation. It is a huge achievement and acknowledges the hard work of the staff to ensure we always provide individualised care of the highest standard for our parents and their babies, placing the family at the centre of care for their baby. We would also like to thank all the parents who have helped us on our Baby Charter journey over the years.”

Justin Irwin, Chief Executive at Bliss, said: "I am delighted that Bliss are able to formally recognise the ongoing commitment of staff at Tunbridge Wells Hospital to putting babies and their families at the heart of everything they do.

"Tunbridge Wells’ family-centred approach to the care of vulnerable babies has won them the Bliss Baby Charter Accreditation - making them one of only five units in the whole country to receive this prestigious award.

"The work of staff here is making a vital difference to the lives of the babies they care for every single day. They are an example of excellence and this award is well deserved."