Royal Devon and Exeter

Exeter Local Neonatal Unit has 22 cots and cares for babies from 27 weeks gestation

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust,

Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW

01392 406623 / 01392 406621 / 01392 406625

Look around Exeter’s 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

  • Exeter Local Neonatal Unit is located on level 2 in the Centre for Women’s Health. Please attend the reception desk and the security staff will let you into the neonatal unit.

  • Click here to link to information about parking within the Exeter Wonford site.

    The nearest carpark is outside the Centre for Women’s Health.

    Free parking is provided for one car for as long as you are on the Neonatal Unit - please ask your baby’s nurse to exempt your vehicle.

    You can also get to the hospital using park and ride. For more information click here.

  • Access to the neonatal unit for parents, legal guardians and siblings is open and unrestricted; this means that you can be present with your baby 24 hours a day. Brothers and sisters are an important part of your family and are welcome at any time. We actively encourage all families to be at the cot side as a family unit.

  • 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. Visitors will need to visit with a parent present unless otherwise documented in your baby’s care plan.

    Visiting Hours: Family and friends are welcome between 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM daily.

    Supervision: All visitors must be accompanied by at least one parent of the baby.

    Visitor Numbers:

    • Each baby may have up to two visitors at a time.

    • This means a maximum of four adults (including parents) may be at the bedside or in a parent room at any one time.

    • Siblings of the baby are not included in this count.

    Children:

    • No child under the age of 16 may visit unless they are a sibling of the baby.

    Duration of Visits:

    To reduce the risk of overstimulation from noise and activity, we kindly ask that visits be kept brief - ideally around 10-20 minutes - to support your baby's rest and recovery.

  • It is important for parents and family to visit their babies but infection poses a great risk to a premature or sick baby. 

    If you are a parent and feel unwell you must enquire from the nurse looking after your baby if it is safe for you to visit.

    No other visitors can visit if they are unwell.

    If parents (or other visitors) have come into contact with anyone who has an infectious disease, for example chickenpox, measles, mumps it is very important that you talk to your baby's doctor about the risks this poses to yourself and your baby. The decision to allow visiting will depend upon individual circumstances.

    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

    • 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

    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

  • The neonatal team will see your baby on the daily ward round and will meet with you regularly to discuss their progress. We encourage parents to be present and involved where able. Ward rounds are carried out:

    Monday and Friday at 10:00 (after medical handover)

    Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 09:00

    All babies are seen by the ward round team during the morning round. The evening ward round begins with a handover away from the cot spaces and while the team will check in with the nurses caring for all of the babies they will only do a full ward round for the babies within the ITU.

  • There is a senior nurse coordinator in addition to nursing staff present in all nurseries 24 hours a day. Your baby will have a named nurse looking after them for each shift. If the named nurse is not available then please speak to any member of staff within the nursery.

    A consultant/senior doctor is available for 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, then please request an update from the medical team and we will arrange a mutually convenient time.

    • The nurse looking after your baby

    • The nurse co-ordinator

    • One of our two clinical nurse managers 

    • The Perinatal Matron

    • The neonatal consultant on service

    If you are unable to resolve any concerns with one of these members of staff, then please contact the trusts Patient Advisory Liaison Service (PALS) rduh.pals@nhs.net

    You can also share feedback with us via Care Opinion - Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | Care Opinion

  • Dr David McGregor – Perinatal Clinical Director

    Nicola O’Shea – Clinical Lead for Neonates

  • Naomi Kelly – Perinatal Matron

    Donna Rowe – Clinical Nurse Manager

    Tracey Perry – Clinical Nurse Manager

Facilities

  • We have 6 parent rooms on the unit. Each are equipped with a TV and a double bed. We encourage parents to stay with their baby in these rooms (this is dependent on the baby’s level of care).

    There are 4 baby and parent cubicles located within the low dependency area. Parents can stay with their baby here on camp beds if they desire.

    We understand how important it is for parents to be with their baby at all times. Extra camp beds are available for any parents wishing to stay resident next to their baby/babies.

  • Family Area - A cosy corner on the unit created by our SNUG team to allow parents to relax and participate in crafts such as journal making and also creates a space for siblings to play.  

    The Retreat - A quiet space for parents to relax and unwind.

    The Quiet Room – A larger space for group meetings and for parents to have time away from the clinical areas.

    Parent kitchen - There is a small fridge for parents to store food and a microwave. Facilities are also available to make hot drinks and breakfast condiments are provided. Please label any food you bring in.

    Mothers who are inpatients can access food on Postnatal Ward, or from one of the cafes on site.

    Two Bathrooms (one including a shower) are available for parents to use on the unit.

  • We offer the following for families:

    • Free Car Parking (if an exemption has been completed

    • Unrestricted unit access for parents and siblings

    • Quiet areas

    • Tea and coffee making facilities

    • Baby diary and ‘Snugglies’ (scent cloths)

    • Weekly infant feeding support group

    • Weekly wellbeing support group

    We also have within our unit support from the following:

    Women’s Health Counsellors

    Women’s Health Counsellors are part of the team providing care in The Centre for Women’s Health.  We offer emotional support for parents with babies on the NNU.

    Parents who have had babies on the NNU - referrals for counselling support include:-

    • Emotional debriefing for parents following their baby/babies discharge from the Neonatal Unit. Parents need to contact the service within 12 months.

    • Bereavement counselling following the death of a baby. Parents need to contact the service within 12 months

    Contact 01392 406678 or rde-tr.cwhcounsellors@nhs.net

    SNUG

    SNUG is a charity that was founded in 2011 by a group of individuals who all shared the same goal; to offer advocacy and wrap-around support to families who have been impacted upon by a difficult pregnancy, birth or neonatal stay.

    Since its inception, SNUG has become an essential resource for the South West community, supporting thousands of new families to access the ‘right support, in the right place at the right time’.

    We have a number of SNUG volunteers who attend the NNU and can provide you with support during your stay with us. Find out more here: https://www.snugonline.org/

    Spiritual, religious, and pastoral care (known as the Chaplaincy team)

    The chaplaincy team regularly attend the ward who also offer pastoral support to all our families regardless of faith or religious beliefs. They can be contacted (01392) 402024 or call the hospital switchboard on (01392) 411611 and ask for the Chaplaincy Team. https://www.royaldevon.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/chaplaincy-spiritual-religious-and-pastoral-care/

    • Infant feeding coordinator

    • Breast feeding support staff based on NNU

    • Speech and language staff (a referral needs to be made for your baby first)

    • Breast pump available in every cot space

    • Breast pump hire (free) for mums who have to go home

    • Weekly infant feeding group session

  • We can accommodate siblings to stay within the NNU if requested.

    Designated play area within the unit.

    Toys and books which can be used at bed spaces.

    Sibling hearts as keepsakes.

Wider Hospital Information