The neonatal units in Dorset form part of the Thames and Wessex Neonatal Network.
Some babies require special care, whether due to prematurity, illness at delivery, or health problems during their stay at hospital.
The staff understand that it is an extremely emotional time when your baby/babies are staying in a neonatal unit. They will give you as much support and information as possible. The team will explain your baby’s treatment and show you how to use any relevant equipment. They will support you to do as much of your baby’s care as possible, and you will be fully involved in any decisions about the treatment they need. Staff can also signpost you to any additional support you might need.
Learn more about babies who need special care.
There are two hospitals in Dorset that look after babies requiring special care: Poole and Dorchester.
High Dependency Unit/Intensive Care Unit: 0300 0192330
Special Care Unit: 0300 0192366
Matron, Daniel Lockyer: 0300 0198217
Poole Neonatal Unit (NNU) is part of the Thames Valley and South West Operational Delivery Network. It is located on the first floor of the Maternity Unit on St Mary’s Road in Poole, next to the postnatal ward.
Poole NNU has 20 cots: 4 Intensive Care, 6 High Dependency Care and 10 Special Care cots.
The unit takes babies born from 27 weeks – babies born earlier will be transferred to another hospital.
Your baby/babies will be cared for by nurses, midwives, neonatologists (doctors specialising in babies) and advanced nurse practitioners (nurses with advanced training in caring for babies).
If you plan to breastfeed but your baby is not able to feed initially, the staff will help you to express milk that can be fed to your baby. If your baby requires a feeding tube, they will teach you how to use it so that you can get involved in feeding your baby. Once your milk comes in, hospital grade pumps are available for all NNU mums to use. There is also an expressing room if you don’t feel comfortable using the pump by your baby’s cot. If you are struggling to express milk, the staff can support you.
We hold weekly parent craft and resuscitation sessions for parents with babies in the neonatal unit. Once your baby is discharged, there are regular coffee mornings for parents with babies who’ve been discharged from the neonatal unit within the last 9 months.
Visiting
Parents, grandparents and siblings can visit babies in the NNU at any time of the day or night. Babies can have a maximum of 3 visitors at any time, including 1 parent.
Visiting hours for other visitors are 13.30-15.00 and 18.00-19.00. Parents are welcome to use the canteen on the main hospital site. There is a kiosk selling food and drinks located on the ground floor of the Maternity Unit during daytime hours. It’s very important that you take care of yourself, and make sure you eat and drink enough while your baby / babies are staying in the NNU.
If you need to stay in the Poole area while your baby/ babies are in the neonatal unit, you can stay in accommodation near to the hospital for £30 a night. Contact Sovereign Housing on 0300 0192359 for further details.
There are two en-suite rooms available for parents. Meals are provided for mums staying in these rooms.
There is a parent’s lounge, with an area for preparing food and drinks. Children are welcome to use the play area in the lounge.
Hygiene
Babies are very vulnerable to infection, particularly premature or otherwise unwell babies, so we ask that you use the hand gel regularly whilst in the unit, when entering and when leaving. If you have a cold or virus, please do not visit. If you have had diarrhoea and/or vomiting, please wait at least 48 hours after symptoms stop as you could still be infectious.
Security
The ward is locked at all times to ensure your baby’s safety. The main entrance door is controlled by the neonatal staff via a door release. Please make sure you don’t let anyone else through when the door is opened for you. The unit uses an electronic tagging alarm system and your baby will have a small tag attached to their ankle whilst staying in the unit.
Parking
A small amount of pay and display parking is available outside the St Mary’s Maternity Unit. There is some street parking available in the surrounding roads, but this is limited to two hours. Alternatively, you can park in the hospital multi-storey car park. We know that parking can be very expensive, especially if your baby/babies are in the neonatal unit for a long time. Parking for parents of babies in the neonatal unit can be obtained at a reduced cost. Ask a member of the team for more information.
Matron, Dom Sheehy
Direct line: 01305 254234 or through main switchboard on 01305 251150
We are a small, busy and friendly unit located opposite the Maternity Unit in East Wing. There are approximately 250 babies admitted to us each year. The babies we care for are either premature (from approximately 32 weeks onwards) or unwell. We can also admit babies under 32 weeks gestation to stabilise them prior to transfer to another unit for them to receive further specialised care. Only under exceptional circumstances do we admit babies who have already been home.
We understand what an emotional time this can be for parents and the rest of the family. We try very hard to support the family as much as possible. Parents can be reassured their baby will be well looked after and receive excellent care from us. Where possible, we are determined to keep babies and parents together and we have 4 parent rooms on the unit to enable us to support this.
Parents are welcome to use the communal Parent’s Kitchen to store and make food whilst they stay on the unit. This area also has a dining table, two fridges, a kettle and a microwave for parents to utilise during their stay.
Visiting
Parents are welcome to visit any time.
Between 9am-7pm siblings and grandparents of the baby are welcome to visit. All other visitors (minimum age 16 years) are welcome between 2pm-6pm.
A maximum of three adult visitors per baby please, one of which must be the baby’s parent or carer.
We advise visitors/siblings not to visit the babies if they are unwell as babies on SCBU are very vulnerable to infection.
Hygiene
Babies are very vulnerable to infection, particularly premature or otherwise unwell babies, so we ask that you use the hand gel regularly whilst in the unit, when entering and when leaving. If you have a cold or virus, please do not visit. If you have had diarrhoea and/or vomiting, please wait at least 48 hours after symptoms stop as you could still be infectious.
Security
The entrance to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) is locked and parents and visitors can only gain access after a member of staff has released the doors. To gain access, please press the intercom button on the left of the doors.
Parking
Parents of babies on SCBU are entitled to free parking – please ask a member of staff on the unit for details.
