Southmead Hospital

Southmead Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has 34 cots and cares for babies of all gestations

North Bristol Trust, Southmead Hospital

Southmead Road, Bristol, BS10 5NB

0117 4146800

Look around Southmead 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

  • Southmead Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is located within Maternity Services and is accessed via the main maternity reception near the Willow Café.

    NICU is a secure ward, please use the intercom at the purple entrance doors on arrival. Fingerprint entry access can be registered at Maternity Reception

  • Free parking is available for parents/carers whilst their baby is admitted to NICU. Please speak with the reception team to arrange this.

    There are a number of visitor car parks located within Southmead Hospital.

    A hospital map and travel information can be found here

  • Access to the neonatal unit for parents, carers and siblings is open and unrestricted. We actively encourage all families to be at the cot side as a family unit including siblings.

  • You are welcome to introduce your baby to your family and friends, we ask that all visitors are over the age of 14 and illness free. For safety reasons and noise levels we ask for a maximum of 2 visitors at any time to be present. Visitors will need to visit with a parent present unless otherwise documented in your baby’s care plan. 

  • 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 NICU medical team will see your baby on the daily ward round each morning. We encourage parents to be present and involved where able.

  • Nursing staff are present in the nurseries 24 hours a day and your baby will have a named nurse looking after them each shift, if they are not available then please speak to any member of staff within the nursery.

    • The nurse looking after your infant

    • The nurse in charge of the unit

    • The unit manager

    • The Neonatal and Transitional Care Matron

    • The 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)

    Telephone 0117 4144569

    Email: pals@nbt.nhs.uk

  • Dr Faith Emery

  • Matron - Amy Purnell

    Supervisory Ward Sister - Fiona Buckley

Facilities

  • There are 3 double bedrooms on NICU available for parents to stay, these are prioritised for families when a baby is first admitted, when the baby is particularly unwell, or if a family is preparing to go home. The bedrooms share a toilet and shower.

    We also have 5 ensuite flats with communal a kitchen and lounge area a short walk from the hospital for families who are from out of area.

  • There is a kitchen area (including kettle, microwave and fridge) for parents use. Sandwiches, fruit and yogurts are available daily.

    Lockers are available to secure belongings. Please speak with reception to obtain a padlock

  • We offer the following for parents and siblings:

    • Unrestricted unit access for parents and siblings

    • Tea and coffee making facilities

    • Bonding muslins

    • Access to staff canteen

    We also have a psychologist on the unit. Please let the nurse looking after your baby know if you would like to meet with her

  • Breast pumps are available on the unit to express at your baby’s cot side. Privacy screens are available if you wish. We also have portable pumps that are available for parents to use at home for the duration of their time on NICU.

    A milk kitchen is available to wash and sterilise your expressing equipment

    If you need any support with expressing, breast or bottle feeding than please speak to any of the nursing staff who will be happy to support you.

    Infant feeding specialists are also available if needed

  • A playroom for siblings is available within the unit. We ask that children are supervised at all times.

Hospital information