staff on the neonatal unit

The main carers on a neonatal unit are the nurses, including neonatal nurses, advanced neonatal practitioners (ANNPs)and nurse consultants.

The ward manager looks after your baby’s welfare and safety with a team of nursing sisters, nursery nurses, midwives, staff nurses, a ward clerk and a housekeeper.

A neonatologist or paediatric consultant will frequently see your baby and give treatment. The consultant leads a team of paediatric doctors called specialist registrars and senior house officers.

Neonatal units work with many other health professionals, such as physiotherapists, who help your baby’s physical development, dietitians who will make sure that your baby gets the best diet possible, and pharmacists who look after the medicines that are prescribed for your baby. An ophthalmologist may check your baby's eyes and audiology technicians will check your baby’s hearing.

If your baby needs x-rays, these will be taken by radiological technicians and ultrasound scans will be made either by aradiological or neonatal consultant.

In a teaching hospital, you may meet pre-registration house officers and medical students. You should always be asked before hand if they’d like to join you in practising skills such as bathing and feeding. Finally, equipment is maintained by a team of electronic medical engineers and technicians.

* Copy courtesy of Bliss