Special care babies to benefit from new nursing services (NHS Wales)

Residents across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire are set to benefit from two new services as part of the new, modernised special care unit for sick and premature babies being provided by Hywel Dda University Health Board.
The new facilities at Glangwili Hospital will include four cots used solely for the purpose of providing extra care to babies nursed alongside their mothers. Previously this extra care has been provided in the special care unit, now these babies will be able to remain alongside their mothers. For the first time, this will enable their mothers to care for them with the support and expertise of the team responsible for looking after sick and premature babies.
For the first time, a dedicated sick and premature babies special care nursing team will work in the community, visiting homes to support mothers and families to care for their babies at home.
This new ‘neonatal nurse outreach team’ will provide specialist care to babies which was previously only available at hospital. This will mean that mums and their babies may be able to get home sooner ultimately reducing the length of time a baby needs to stay on a unit, and improve their recovery, whilst being cared for by their family.
Head of Child and Adolescent Health Services, Isobel Hall said: “Having a sick or premature baby can be a stressful and upsetting times for mums. As part of the new services we are ensuring wherever possible babies and mums stay together as close as possible. Our highly trained specialist nurses will provide the high level of care needed by these tiny members of our community”
For more information about our new services for women and children go to www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/yourfutureservices