Specialist Neonatal Care at the hospital

Salisbury Hospital's Neonatal Unit

Salisbury's Neonatal Unit is classed as a Local Neonatal Unit (LNU) within the Thames Valley and Wessex Neonatal Network (TVWNN).

Most babies will not require specialist care, however for those babies that do, the neonatal unit in Salisbury provides specialist care for babies who are born prematurely, who are unwell after birth or with antenatal concerns. Our unit philosophy is to provide a high standard of family-centred care from admission to discharge, with mutual respect and open communication promoted at all times. We offer ongoing educational support to both our medical and nursing staff to maintain the highest quality of care with a strong evidence base.

Some parents may have had the opportunity to visit the Neonatal Unit before the birth of their baby and may have an idea of what the environment is like and what to expect. For other parents, attending to the Neonatal Unit is unplanned and can be a very difficult time.

At Salisbury Hospital we are proud of our extensive facilities available within the Neonatal Unit for family use, which include:

A communal kitchen with fridge, microwave, and dishwasher. Tea, coffee and milk are all supplied, free of charge, for parents and their visitors.
A private enclosed patio area/outdoor dining area, playground and a playroom specific for supervised sibling use.
A large separate toilet with disabled and toddler changing facilities, a cloakroom with lockers for parents and visitors.
A ‘quiet room’ for parents to spend some time together/alone.
Parent craft sessions including resuscitation skills which are taught to all parents whose baby/babies have been cared for in the neonatal unit for more than 48 hours.
Specialist Care Cots – there are 7 cots for babies that require less ‘high care’ but are not able to be cared for on the postnatal ward with their mothers.
Kangaroo Care Rooms - four single rooms where one parent is able to stay with their baby/babies. One of these rooms can be used for babies with infections/specific needs. For these rooms, bathroom facilities exist with shower on a shared basis.
Separate parent accommodation with direct access to the unit, which consists of four double bedrooms all with ensuite bathrooms and there is a large sitting room for parents and their visitors with two sofas and television.

Please refer to our Parking & Visiting Information for Neonatal Unit visiting guidelines.