Hull is leading the way nationally for neonatal care following investment of over £1.3 million.

Physical expansion of the unit within Hull Women and Children’s Hospital began in October 2023 to accommodate more intensive care and high dependency cots, improved parent and family facilities, additional equipment and a dedicated staff training suite.

Funded by a £1.2 million grant from NHS England plus local contractor donations and £100,000 from the hospital charity’s “Space to Grow Appeal”, the centre is now one of the leading providers of Level 3 intensive care in the country for babies as young as 22 weeks.

Francesca Matthews, Neonatal Matron says:

“As one of just four level 3 units in the Yorkshire and Humber region, we regularly provide care for some of the most seriously ill and premature babies across our area, but we have accepted babies in the past from as far afield as Northampton and Stevenage because of our specialist experience and facilities.

The Red Room in Hull’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

“Work to expand our unit began in October 2023, and it has taken just shy of a year to complete the refurbishment, to open all our additional cots, and to fully recruit to the team.

“As well as being able to care for more critically ill and high dependency babies in more modern and suitable surroundings, the expansion of the unit also allows flexibility in the wider system. Our maternity colleagues have greater confidence supporting high risk birthing people as they know we have the skills and facilities on site should they be needed, and we can flex to take babies from outside of our immediate geographical area too.”

One year on, and the unit has expanded to be able to accommodate up to 29 babies in total. Its capacity to care for the sickest or most premature babies has also increased, rising from five to seven intensive care cots, plus NICU now boasts ten high dependency cots, upon from the previous figure of seven.

NICU staff say the improvements have served as a real morale boost, but you don’t have to take their word for it, as the figures speak for themselves.

Pre-term outcomes for neonates are now among the best in the country, with 2023 National Neonatal Audit Programme (NNAP) data showing mortality rates, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) rates to be lower than the national average for units of similar level.

Across the Yorkshire and Humber region, Hull currently ranks as the best performing Level 3 unit for undertaking a first parent consultation within 24 hours, babies being screened for preventable visual problems (ROP screening), and also reports the lowest regional mortality rates.

Staff turnover is incredibly low at between 1 and 2 per cent; the ward has no current vacancies and one of the most recent advertisements for a staff nurse, owing to the unit’s expansion, attracted more than 120 applicants. The team is recognised as a regional exemplar when it comes to the provision of staff training and development.

Crucially, the team is also doing an excellent job in the eyes of the families they support, as demonstrated through the high level of engagement in parental discussion and support groups, including one specifically set up for dads.

Hull’s NICU is able to care for babies as young as 22 weeks

“We’re so thankful for the investment which has enabled us to provide more tailored care to more families across this part of the country and beyond,” says Dr Ellie Peirce, Neonatal Clinical Lead.

“The expansion took a lot of work but we now have the facilities to offer the high standard of care to which we’ve always aspired, and to even more babies. We take every baby we can and do the best we can on every shift; whatever each baby needs, it’s our mission to try and give it.

“The job can be tough but it’s the teamwork that often gets us through; staff have been really accommodating as we’ve had to adapt shift patterns and expand rotas to manage our additional capacity, but this is testament to how committed the team is to doing their best for children and families in our care.”

In addition to national funding of £1.2 million, the WISHH Charity’s “Space to Grow Appeal” funded a further £100,000 of improvements which ordinarily fall outside of mainstream health budgets. On this occasion, the efforts of local donors, supporters and fundraisers were able to fund a sensory room, a specialist staff training facility, enhancements to the parents’ quiet room and development of a siblings play area for parents to spend time with their other children whilst on the unit.

On top of this, Hull-based contractor Helix offered to refurbish the parents’ kitchen facility for free, and this now gives parents a more pleasant environment in which to take time out, hydrate, rest and recharge, away from the hustle and bustle of the main ward.

Francesca adds:

“On behalf of the whole team, I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has made this achievement possible; the team from our PFI provider, Apleona; our contractors and domestic teams; infection control staff; the WISHH charity and local fundraisers; the local Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership; and not forgetting our own staff, who have coped with the building works really well and who did everything they could to ensure the care of families wasn’t adversely impacted. The team has worked through the improvement works with a smile on their faces, at times under real pressure, and I’m so proud of the outstanding facilities we have now in Hull, and that we’re able to deliver the care to match.”