What to Expect When You Arrive

Unit Facilities

  • Parent Accommodation

    There are 12 rooms in Cots for Tots House at St Michael’s Hospital (8 en suite).   There are TV and fridges in each room. A £20 refundable deposit is required.

    Priority is reserved for families from out of area and families in intensive care.

  • Parent Facilities

    Shared cooking, laundry and lounge facilities in Cots for Tots. Family seating area and sitting room on NICU with fridge / hot drink facilities.

    Parents are asked to ensure mobile phones are kept on silent and are encouraged not to talk on their mobile phone in the clinical area where possible.

    Free wifi. No computer access available on unit. Please ask your bedside nurse about our vCreate video messaging app for when you are away from your baby.

     

  • Breastfeeding facilities and support

    Dedicated expressing room for Mum’s on NICU. Limited number of portable pumps for hire - £20 refundable deposit. Portable pumps for use at the cotside or in expressing room. Milk freezers available for the storage of small volumes of expressed milk.

     

    Breast feeding specialist nurses available most week days.

     

    Lead Infant feeding nurses are Louise Wilson and Sarah Grant.

  • Facilities for Siblings

    Communal toys on unit (limited availability) in family sitting room.

    Access to supervised playroom/school at Bristol Children’s Hospital (to be booked in advance, limited availability). Changing facilities available on the unit

  • Parent Support Groups

    As advertised on family support board.

Visiting Policy

  • Parents

    Parent are welcome 24 hours a day

  • Siblings

    Siblings are welcome 24 hrs a day 7 days a week as long as they are supervised at all times and not unwell.

  • Family and Friends

    Family members and friends are welcome between 8am and 8pm daily

  • Number of Visitors

    There is a maximum of three visitors per cot including parents at any one time. Others are welcome to wait in reception areas.

  • Hygiene and Infection Prevention

    Please leave outside coats on stands provided at unit entrance. Pound coin operated lockers available inside unit for valuables and bags, please vacate at end of each visit as these are limited in number.

    Bare below the elbow (rolled up sleeves, removal of watches, bracelets and rings other than plain wedding bands) and hand washing as per trust guidelines.

    Please do not attend the unit if you are feeling unwell with a high temperature, new continuous cough, or diarrhoea or vomiting in the last 48 hours. Please discuss further with the nurse in charge if unsure.

    In line with current guidelines, all parents are required to wear a surgical face mask (these can be obtained at the hospital entrance) when in common areas and corridors. These can be removed when at your baby’s bedspace.

Meet the Team

  • Consultant Responsible for NICU

    Lead Neonatologist: Dr Anoo Jain

  • Head of Nursing / Matron

    Matron: Louise Gould

    Head of Nursing and Midwifery: Sarah Windfeld

  • Key Staff

    Family Support Sister: Kathy Eastwood

    Dietician: Heather Norris

    Pharmacist: Zoe Price

    Neonatal Outreach Team:  Led by Lyn Bryant and Sarah Grant

    NIDCAP Lead Nurse: Rebecca Elson and Debbie Hunts

    Grand Appeal Family Support Practitioner: Katie Hanks