Toggle Site Contrast Toggle Site Contrast

Visiting our units

Tour of Bedford SCBU

Tour of L&D NICU

We value parent(s)/carer(s) as partners in the care of their infants and want you to feel fully involved in your baby’s care.

Parent(s)/carers and siblings have open access to their infant/s 24 hours a day. We particularly encourage parent(s)/carers to attend morning ward rounds to discuss the care of your baby in partnership with the NICU/SCBU team. The sensitive nature of the care we provide and the friendly spaces on our unit mean you may hear personal information regarding other families and their baby. We ask you to please respect the confidentiality of others.

Siblings:

  • Siblings are welcome at your baby’s cot side when accompanied by a parent(s)/carer(s)
  • Siblings must be up-to-date with their immunisations
  • Siblings must not come to NICU/SCBU if having symptoms of cold, cough, upset stomach and must be symptom free for 48 hours
  • If the sibling has come into contact with chickenpox or has a rash, you must inform the nurse in charge and visiting will not be permitted
  • Parent(s)/carer(s) can prepare siblings for the NICU/SCBU environment by using ‘baby’s come early’ leaflet. Ask your nurse for this
  • Parent(s)/carer(s) are asked to monitor sibling behaviour and well-being during their NICU/SCBU visit
  • On occasion, staff may ask siblings to leave the room due to unit activity or procedures being carried out
  • Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times
  • There may be restrictions periodically throughout the year dependant on seasonal viruses and community outbreaks
  • Siblings can access the sitting room

Grandparents, Family and Friends

  • Grandparents, family and friends over 16 years of age may visit if accompanied by the baby’s parents during 12pm – 8pm.
  • Grandparents, family and friends are restricted from visiting during all ward rounds .
  • At any one time, there must be no more than three people at the cotside in total. There may be situations where no more than 2 people are allowed.
  • Grandparents, family and friends must not come to NICU/SCBU if having symptoms of cold, cough, upset stomach and must be symptom free for 48 hours
  • If grandparents, family/friends has come into contact with chickenpox/shingles or has a rash, you must inform the nurse in charge and visiting will not be permitted

Visiting is not permitted with the following symptoms :

  • High temperature
  • Cough/cold/flu symptoms
  • Spots/rash
  • Vomiting/Diarrhoea
  • Chickenpox (Contact or symptoms)/Shingles
  • Open wounds
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Cold sores

All visitors are required to wash their hands with soap & water and follow up with alcohol rub when first arriving in NICU/SCBU.

In this section