Parent Information
Visitor Policy
Parents are welcome at any time and we encourage you to spend as much time with your baby.
We would ask you to respect our request to refrain from visiting and phoning the unit between 7:00- 8:00 and 19:00-20:00, to facilitate staff changeover and report time.
Access/Entry to the unit is via a buzzer outside. Please only press the buzzer once and be patient while we answer as we are caring for your baby and other babies.
Ward Rounds
There are ward rounds in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit at 9am each morning and at 4pm each afternoon approximately. To ensure privacy and confidentiality, we ask you to leave the unit during the medical rounds. There is a seated area outside the door of the Intermediate Care Unit. We will call you into the unit when the medical round comes to your baby so you can meet and talk to your baby’s doctors.
Hand Hygiene
One of the most important things you can do for your baby is perform hand hygiene.
Meals
Please take time to have a break. Parents can avail of meals at reduced prices in the main canteen in CUH. Please ask the staff looking after your baby for the appropriate requisition form.
Car Parking Passes
A 3-day or 7-day discount on car parking is available for parents of babies in the Neonatal Unit. Please ask the staff looking after your baby to give you the required form, which you can then take to the security desk in the entrance area on the first floor.
Photographs
Photographic reminders of your baby are very important to you. Please feel free to take photos of your baby, but we would ask you not to photograph other babies, families, or staff.
Mobile Phones
We ask you not to use your mobile phone in the NNU. If you need to use your phone, please step outside of the NNU. If you need to use your phone for photographs, please ensure it is switched to silent. We ask you to clean your phone with a disposable wipe after each use.
You may see some healthcare staff using phones for medical and emergency reasons.
Newborn Hearing Screening
A hearing screen is routinely offered to all babies born in CUMH. The screen/ test is usually carried out before your baby leaves the NNU. If this is not possible, the hearing screening team will follow your baby up on the post-natal ward or contact you to arrange an outpatient appointment, subject to your consent. Please click here for more information on Newborn Hearing Screening.