Film clip lifeline for babies and parents at Preston neonatal unit

Technology is helping to bridge the agonising gap between parents and their premature or unwell babies under isolation at the Royal Preston Hospital.
Nursing staff film babies to keep parents up to date with their progress.Nursing staff film babies to keep parents up to date with their progress.
Nursing staff film babies to keep parents up to date with their progress.

A new video service is allowing mums and dads who are unable to be with their child due to Covid-19 restrictions to get regular film updates from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The service, called vCreate and funded by the Baby Beat charity, means staff can record 30-second clips to be accessed by parents, siblings and other family members to provide peace of mind at a very difficult time.

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“When it just isn’t possible for parents to take their new baby home straight away, it can be really emotionally distressing for families,” said Cathy Skidmore, appeal manager for Baby Beat.

"The service means that when parents and other family members can’t be on the unit, they can still feel connected to their new arrival.

"Parents can watch the videos at any time and on any device, as well as being able to download the videos and access a baby care video diary to keep a log of their baby’s progress.

“This has been particularly beneficial recently, with many parents needing to spend more time at home with their other children while schools have been closed.”

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Joanne Smith, NICU Matron said: “This is a brilliant way of helping parents to feel connected to their babies when they can’t be on the unit.

"To be away from your baby is extremely difficult. But to know they are receiving excellent care and seeing their baby on a video provides some comfort for families.

"We are doing our utmost to ensure families stay updated on their baby’s care and progress, keeping that strong connection going until it’s time for them to be together at home.”

To access the service, parents register for a vCreate account, and can then receive 30-second videos which are recorded on a unit-approved device with a camera.

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The videos contain no clinical information, are stored securely and parents receive email or SMS updates to say a new video has been made available to them.

Staff on the unit are able to track when videos are being watched, who by, for how long and on which device, for auditing purposes.

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