Brand new £32m QMC neonatal intensive care unit welcomes first babies

The brand new £32million neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) has welcomed its first babies. A total of 18 babies have been moved on the ward, which opened on December 12 and aims to provide a "home from home" space for babies and their families.

The first baby to arrive on the new unit on December 12 was Jasmine Khan, who has been an inpatient at QMC since her birth in November. Jasmine was delivered by an emergency caesarean section at just 34 weeks gestation, weighing 1.23kg.

Halimah Khan, Jasmine's mum, found out the baby girl was not growing at the predicted rate and so she was delivered early and has been receiving specialised care on the QMC’s previous neonatal unit, which was four times smaller, since her birth. Halimah, from Lenton, has praised the new facilities.

The first time mother said: "We have been taking each day as it comes. There have been some ups and downs with Jasmine having some good and bad days, but recently she has been doing well and has been more awake.

"The new unit looks wonderful and will be so much better for families, especially those visiting with children as there are lovely play areas for them. I was a little nervous about the move, but am excited now I’m here."

Halimah was also cared for by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust's (NUH) neonatal team 24 years ago. She was joined by her mother, Maniza Begum Khan, on the carefully planned transfer route.

Maniza said: "The new unit is so much better. The facilities and equipment are wonderful, with each baby having their own trolley for the things that they need. There is just so much more space, and it feels really, really homely."

Dr Lleona Lee, consultant neonatologist and NUH’s clinical lead for the Maternity and Neonatal Redesign, explained that the trust has worked hard to ensure the safe and smooth transitions of babies to the new unit. She said: "We are really excited to finally welcome families onto our brand new facility, as it’s been a long time coming.

"The unit is going to have a significant positive impact on the lives and futures of the neonatal babies we care for, as well as the staff who work within it." The development was funded by NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board.

It provides an additional 21 cots at QMC, taking the total to 38, and the overall footprint of the site has increased from 500sqm to 2,000sqm, making it the largest NICU in the East Midlands. Programme Director, Jenni Twinn, who led the delivery of the neonatal unit, explained what a significant step forward the new unit is for neonatal services.

She said: "Welcoming our first babies onto the unit is a huge milestone, on what has been many years in the making. We have created a real home-from-home for our families to help them feel cared for and supported during their time with us, and it is this attention to detail that sets this unit apart.

"This would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of so many people who have committed to making this beautiful unit a reality." More than £322,000 also came from funds raised by Nottingham Hospitals Charity.

Nigel Gregory, Chief Executive of Nottingham Hospitals Charity, said: "Thanks to all those who have generously donated to our Big Appeal, we are delighted to have been able to fund some of the special touches, home comforts and additional equipment that will help make this new neonatal unit a home-from-home for babies and families.

"With poorly babies and their families at the forefront of our minds, we have funded added extras such as glazed screens between bays, to allow families to have space and privacy with their babies, welcoming wall art in the entrance to help visitors feel at home when entering the unit, and comfortable furniture and play equipment for siblings visiting their baby brothers and sisters. I’d like to thank everyone who has donated to make this possible, it will make a real difference to families who may be spending weeks or even months on the unit."

As a result of the new facility, the QMC will become NUH’s NICU and the neonatal unit at City Hospital will become a Local Neonatal Unit. There, babies can continue to receive intensive care for a short period of time, before being transferred to the QMC for longer-term care, if needed.

To ensure the cot numbers are increased in the safest way possible, the NICU will not be expanding the number of cots in use until the New Year, the trust said.