Support network launched for parents in north Wales
A NEW support network to help families of children on neonatal units in north Wales has been launched by nurses.
Neomates North Wales is a new group for parents of babies receiving care in one of the region’s three neonatal units.
The support network, which is open to all parents of children currently receiving care or who have previously had care on a unit, initially launched as a Facebook group.
Group meetings have since been arranged following the SuRNICC (Sub Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Centre) opening at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
The group has been inspired by neonatal unit staff at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral, which set up the original Neomates group in 2013.
Julia Davies, healthcare support worker at Glan Clwyd Special Care Baby Unit, said: “We were looking for ways in which we can increase the support we offer to the parents and families of the babies under our care, and were inspired by the work of the team at Arrowe Park.
“We spoke to them as part of our preparations for the SuRNICC opening, and loved the idea behind their Neomates group.
“They’ve helped us to set up our own branch, giving us ideas and information on how we can take this forward.
“We know it can be a really worrying time for the families, and we do all we can to provide as much support as possible.
“But we know that a safe, private space for them to share their experiences with other families provides another great opportunity to speak with other people who have gone through a similar experience of
Neomates North Wales is a new group for parents of babies receiving care in one of the region’s three neonatal units. Here is a picture of the Neomates group in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd
having their much loved baby under our care.
“There’s no more appropriate day than World Prematurity Day to launch the group, given a significant
proportion of the babies we care for are born early.
“We want to invite family members of any babies we’ve cared for to join the group and share their experiences and hopefully help others in the future.”
The group is administered by neonatal staff from Wrexham Maelor, Ysbyty Gwynedd and Glan Clwyd, and offers a private space for parents and families to share their experiences of a child receiving care on a neonatal unit.
The group also contains information on how to seek medical care if needed.
Mandy Cooke, neonatal services manager, said: “Our staff work extremely hard to provide as much support for our families as possible, and this new group will give an extra way for them to reach out and speak to others who have had a similar experience.”
Bliss estimates that 60,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK every year, approximately one in every 13 born before 37 weeks gestation.