A bespoke specialist transitional card ward for babies and mothers has celebrated its first birthday at Newcastle Hospitals.
Part of maternity post natal care at the RVI, the transitional care team has made a difference caring for over 745 babies and their mothers together, who in the past may have been separated due to their baby requiring extra care.
The ward looks after babies who are ‘late preterm’, born between 34-36 weeks, or who require extra monitoring, feeding or oral medicine, babies can stay for one day or up to 2-3 weeks, the average stay is 3-4 days.
The hybrid specialist team of around 30 healthcare professionals is made up of midwives, specialist neonatal nurses, nursery nurses, and maternity support workers with a facilities team supporting the ward.
Sister Kelly Alexander, said: “We’re delighted to have reached our first milestone since opening as a stand-alone ward in the April last year.
“This signalled the beginning of a bespoke transitional care service and specialist ward, the first of its kind in the RVI and the only stand-alone transitional care ward within the northern region.
“We’ve developed the service over the year and we’re extremely proud of our teamwork ethos.
“It’s a privilege to be able to look after the babies and make a difference to them and their families at the very start of their lives together.”
