The unit demonstrated that there are sufficient procedures, practices, and facilities in place to empower parents and carers to be partners in care through joint decision-making and hands on care.
Additionally, truly individualised care is provided based on an understanding of families’ needs and availability, facilitating a solid foundation for Family Integrated Care.
The Bliss Baby Charter accreditation assessment was carried out both in person and virtually with Antrim Area neonatal unit on 10th September 2025 by Bliss Baby Charter Programme Lead, Rachel Quartermaine, Bliss Baby Charter Officers, Charlotte Damiral and Nikki Sage, and Volunteer Assessors, Fauzia Paize and Sophie Johnson. The Baby Charter leads for the unit were Kathie Dobbin and Jacqueline Quigg (retired).
It was noted that the team embraced a holistic approach to care, placing significant emphasis on the role of parents as active partners. Families were not only welcomed but fully integrated into the care environment, contributing to a warm, inclusive atmosphere that extended beyond clinical interactions.
One parent whose baby received care on the unit described staff as being like ‘family’, saying: “We feel like we have got to know them, they saved my wee boys life and we are indebted to them. This feels like the best place you could be in this situation,” while another said: ““The NICU was the best part of my journey. I wouldn’t have wished him to have come as early as he did but genuinely in terms of being listened to, involved and treated with respect, they were the best part of my whole pregnancy.”
Jacqui Quigg, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Baby Charter Lead (retired) said: “Receiving the Bliss Baby Charter Gold award is recognition of the incredible care, compassion and dedication shown across our entire neonatal team. The achievement is not just a title it is a reflection of the values that guide us every single day, kindness, teamwork and unwavering commitment to giving every baby the best start in life and helping parents be the most important people in that journey. The Bliss baby charter is built around partnership with parents, and this award is as much for the parents as it is for us.”
Shirley Montgomery, Lead Paediatric Nurse, said: “Gaining the Bliss Charter Gold Award is a great achievement for all the neonatal team. A lot of work went into progressing this award and it’s extremely rewarding for all involved. The award recognises the importance of family integrated care and empowering parents to be partners in their baby’s care through joint decisions making and hands on care.”
Sophie Johnson, the parent assessor for the accreditation said: “It was a real pleasure to assist with the Antrim assessment. To meet the team and see how welcoming and friendly the unit was. Congratulations on your gold award. A well-deserved accreditation for working hard to make sure parents are welcome and can assist in their children's care whilst with you. A job well done!”
HCP assessor and Bliss Trustee Fauzia Paize said: “As a Bliss Trustee I was honoured to be involved in the Bliss Baby Charter assessment of Antrim Neonatal Unit as a healthcare professional assessor. The Bliss Baby Charter is a valuable tool to improve standards on neonatal units via the embedding of high quality family integrated care. Antrim neonatal unit really showed their partnership working with parents and the support they provide for them therefore improving outcomes for babies. I extend my congratulations on being the first Northern Irish unit to achieve Bliss Baby Charter gold accreditation - a very well deserving unit.”
