We are delighted to announce that Wishaw Hospital neonatal unit has successfully completed its Bliss Baby Charter Gold accreditation.
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, as well as understanding families’ needs and availability in order to provide truly individualised care. This facilitates a solid foundation for Family Integrated Care (FiCare).
During the assessment it was observed that Wishaw has a very strong team which maintains a high standard of care for babies and families. They are clearly passionate about FiCare and the experience of families whilst they are on the unit and beyond, with accessible peer support, psychological support and outpatient rooms all available on the ward.
Feedback from parents was positive, with one parent commenting that they were ‘always made to feel comfortable and welcome any time’. Another parent said they would ‘not have got through without’ the team at Wishaw and that ‘they care for tiny humans and also parents and make them all feel like a family’.
There was also a strong ethos of families staying in touch with the unit after discharge, demonstrated through their strong social media presence and the board in transitional care where families could share their stories with other families.
Parents Rachel and Sean Kivlin, whose baby was born prematurely at 28 weeks+5 and cared for by the unit, said: “What stands out most for us is the people. The neonatal team don’t just care for the babies – they care for the parents too. We had twins and experienced a devastating loss, but throughout everything the care our family received was outstanding.
“The team supported us emotionally, explained everything clearly and made sure we were involved and informed every step of the way. From the moment you walk through the door, you are treated like family. We will always be grateful to the neonatal team at University Hospital Wishaw for the care, kindness and compassion they showed us and our children.”
Leah Noble, NHS Lanarkshire Interim Director of Midwifery said: “Achieving Gold Accreditation in the Bliss Baby Charter is a remarkable accomplishment and a huge credit to the neonatal team at University Hospital Wishaw. To reach this standard reflects the team’s unwavering commitment to putting families at the heart of everything they do.
“The assessors recognised not only the exceptionally high standard of clinical care, but also the compassion, kindness and partnership shown to parents and carers, often during the most challenging times of their lives. This award is testament to the dedication, professionalism and teamwork of everyone involved, and I want to extend my sincere congratulations and thanks to the whole neonatal team for this outstanding achievement.”
Caroline Lee-Davey, Bliss Chief Executive, said: “This Gold accreditation is testament to the dedication shown by the amazing team at Wishaw to placing families at the heart of everything they do. It is evident that parents feel supported and encouraged to play an active role in their baby’s care – something we know makes a huge difference for both babies and their families.”
