- Date awarded: February 2025
- Awarded value: £12000
- Location: Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
Creating a peaceful haven for parents at NHS Fife neonatal unit.
With the help of Fife Health Charity, the NHS Fife neonatal unit has upgraded parent facilities with the needs of the parents of the most vulnerable babies born in Fife in mind. These tiny newborns, some born up to 12 weeks early, require constant care and monitoring. Often their parents stay in the unit in order to care for them and make those important early bonds and it was clear to all that the facilities for overnight stays were tired at best.
The decision to improve the parent facilities came from valuable feedback from parents using the neonatal service. They identified the need for a less clinical space and for an improved sleeping environment. The neonatal unit staff recognised that exhausted and emotionally drained parents needed a tranquil, well-equipped environment, a home from home to welcome their special newborns and thus an application to the Fife Health Charity was made.
A matter of months later, the newly renovated rooms are unrecognisable. They have been equipped with comfortable double beds, high-quality bedroom furniture, premium reclining breastfeeding chairs, and wall-mounted televisions. Additionally, lighting and a mural has been thoughtfully installed to provide a warm and comforting ambiance, a far cry from a clinical ward space. Fold down camp beds have been replaced with double fold down beds which not only allow both parents to stay with their baby, but importantly also save space.
The premium reclining breastfeeding chairs have been equally well received. Mothers use these for important skin-to-skin contact cuddles between breastfeeding mother and baby and can be reclined for optimum comfort, allowing baby to relax and stay close to mum for as long as they want.
The room had a shower, and there was another room nearby with a kettle and a microwave. We appreciated these luxuries and they helped to keep us sane.
The calming wall mural created by a local artist completes the peaceful retreat for parents and family members away from the activity and alarms of the busy ward. The rooms have been aptly named Blossom and Sunflower.
Moving to the parent facilities with my baby helped to establish breast feeding.
Your support makes a difference
Bearing in mind that some parents will have extended stays in this unit, it is fair to say that this room needs to serve not only as a functional space but as a sanctuary for parents; a calm, light-filled retreat to be close to their little one, sharing precious moments when it matters most. With the addition of the Blossom and Sunflower rooms, we believe that, with the help of the Fife Health Charity support the Neonatal Unit has successfully met and exceeded this brief.
