The neonatal unit at West Suffolk Hospital provides specialist care for premature and unwell babies. Our team supports families throughout their stay, offering intensive, high-dependency, and transitional care.
On this page
- Services we provide
- The neonatal team
- Where to find us
- Visiting information
- Patient information and support
Services we provide
The neonatal unit at West Suffolk Hospital provides care for babies requiring short-term intensive care, high-dependency care, special care and transitional care, for sick and preterm infants from 30 weeks gestation onwards, and for twins from 32 weeks gestation.
Babies come to us for a variety of reasons and stay with us for varying lengths of time ranging from a few hours to weeks. We stabilise babies if they are delivered at West Suffolk below 30 weeks gestation, prior to being transferred to a tertiary unit for ongoing care. Parents are partners in care with the NNU team.
The neonatal team
Your baby will be looked after by a team of healthcare professionals with specialist training in neonatal care. This includes:
- Consultants
- Registrars
- Nurses trained in neonatal intensive care (including care for ventilated babies)
- Nurses and nursery nurses trained in special and transitional care
- The neonatal community outreach team.
You’ll be introduced to the staff involved in your baby’s care each day.
Other professionals who support the ward
A range of healthcare professionals from our wider multidisciplinary team visit the ward. This may include:
- Ophthalmologist
- Physiotherapist
- Dietitian
- Pharmacist
- Speech and language therapist
- Psychologist
- Hearing screening team
- Occupational therapist
We also support student learning and development. Student nurses and midwives complete placements with our team, and student doctors, radiographers and paramedics may be present to observe and learn.
Contact the team
Nurses station: 01284 713251/712854
Laura Grover, neonatal unit ward manager: 01284 713252
Where to find us
The neonatal unit is located on the first floor of West Suffolk Hospital.
Parking information
Parents are entitled to free parking for two cars per family. This will be arranged by the NNU ward clerk or nursing team on admission.
Check accessibility information
Visiting information
Parents are welcome on the unit at any time and are encouraged to be involved in their baby's care.
Siblings can visit if accompanied by a parent and must stay with them at all times.
Other visitors are welcome two at a time during the following hours:
- Monday to Friday: 2pm to 8pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 12pm to 8pm
All visitors under the age of 14 must be siblings of the baby. To help protect babies on the unit, children under 14 who are not siblings cannot visit.
Family members and older siblings must be accompanied by a parent at all times.
If you have any questions about visiting, please speak to the nurse in charge.
