Royal Cornwall Hospital
Cornwall Local Neonatal Unit has 20 cots and cares for babies from 27 weeks gestation
Royal Cornwall Hospital
Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust, Treliske, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3LJ
01872 252036
Look around Cornwall Neonatal Unit
Content not to be used without permission of the SW Neonatal ODN, please contact: swneonatalnetwork@uhbw.nhs.uk
Information about the Neonatal Unit
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The neonatal unit is located within the Princess Alexandra Wing on the first floor. The unit is a secure ward so please ring the doorbell on arrival and state who/which baby you are here to visit through the intercom system.
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Click here to link to information about parking within the Truro site. The nearest carpark is opposite the Trelawney entrance and is a 3-4 minute walk away. There is a drop off zone outside Princess Alexandra Wing.
Free parking is provided for one car for as long as you are on the Neonatal Unit. Please ask the ward clerk or your baby’s nurse for a parking permit.
You can also get to the hospital using public transport. For more information about the Park and Ride service Click here.
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Parents have unrestricted access to the Neonatal Unit 24 hours a day. They can be with their baby at any time of day or night and for as long as they wish. Access for siblings is open when accompanied by parents, please make sure that siblings are supervised at all times.
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You are welcome to introduce your baby to your family and friends; we ask that all visitors are over the age of 16 and are illness free. For safety reasons and noise levels we ask that there are only two adults at the cot side at any one time. Visitors will need to visit with a parent present unless previously agreed and documented in your baby’s care plan.
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To help stop infections spreading, everyone coming into the neonatal unit families, staff and visitors must:
Be free of infectious illnesses such as coughs, cold and sickness and diarrhoea.
If you have come into contact with someone with an infectious illness it is important to discuss this with your baby’s nurse.
Take off coats and roll up sleeves to the elbows
Take off watches and jewellery
Wash hands and arms up to the elbows
Dry hands and arms properly
Use the alcohol hand gel, but please allow to completely dry before touching your baby.
If you see anyone not doing this, including staff or visitors, please remind them.
We also kindly ask you to wash or use hand gel again before you touch your baby.
Your Baby’s Care
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The Neonatal team will see your baby on the daily ward round and will meet with you regularly to discuss their progress. Ward rounds are carried out at around 9.30 and we encourage parents to be present and involved where able.
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There are nursing staff present in all nurseries 24 hours a day and your baby will have a named nurse looking after them for each shift, if they are not available then please speak to any member of staff within the nursery.
A member of the medical team is available on the unit 24 hours a day. If you are unable to attend the ward round or would like more of an in-depth sit-down discussion with a Consultant/Senior Doctor, then please request an update from the medical team and we will arrange a mutually convenient time.
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The nurse looking after your infant
The nurse in charge of the unit
The Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (ANNP) on shift
The unit manager
The Neonatal and Transitional Care Matron
The consultant on service
The Trust also has a Patient experience team who can deal with complaints or concerns as well as any compliments. To access more information Click here.
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Dr Chris Bell
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Matron: Helen Greenhill
NNU Ward Managers: Melanie Frost and Claire Tregonning
Transitional care ward and Outreach manager: Rebecca Heaney
Facilities
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There are 5 double bedrooms on NNU available for parents to stay, these are prioritised for families when the baby is particularly unwell or if a family is preparing to go home, but we can often accommodate individual nights during your baby’s stay. The bedrooms share toilets and a shower.
Overnight single beds may be available for use at special care cubicle cot sides.
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There is a parent’s kitchen on the unit with a dining table for all families to use. There is a kettle, microwave and toaster with some essential food items available for families to use during their stay.
Lockers are available by the unit entrance to secure belongings – please speak to a member of staff to obtain a key.
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We offer the following for families:
Unrestricted unit access for parents and siblings
Quiet areas
Tea and coffee making facilities
Free car parking
Daily hot meals for parents which can be ordered to come to the unit from the canteen.
Psychological support through our unit Psychologist
Dedicated neonatal physiotherapist and occupational therapist
Weekly visits from our BLISS Champion
Weekly visits from our music therapist
Sibling support packs
Library books and Toni box usage
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Within the outpatient/play area there is a breast milk expressing room, here you will find a private area with hospital grade breast pumps to express your milk. You will have access to the milk room which contains facilities to wash and sterilise all feeding/expressing equipment. You will also find multiple pumps around the unit to facilitate you to express at your baby’s bedside or into the parent bedrooms.
We also have a limited supply of portable breast pumps that are available for parents to loan, these must be returned on discharge home.
If you need any support with expressing, breast or bottle feeding then please speak to any of the nursing staff who will be happy to support you. We also have a team of Neonatal infant feeding team specialists who will regularly be on the unit for support if required.
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We actively encourage siblings to meet their new baby and want them to feel welcome and entertained whilst they are here. We have sibling packs available which can help younger children understand more about their siblings' journey and provide entertainment. Please ask your baby’s nurse for one of these.
Within the outpatient waiting room there is a children’s area with colouring, games, books and some toys.