Neonatal team's simple innovation gains national recognition | News & events

The Trust's Neonatal Team's quality improvement work has been showcased at the British Association of Perinatal Medicine Conference and published in the journal 'Infant'.

The project introduced a gentler way of holding babies during lumbar punctures, a procedure which is used to investigate serious infections.

Using a simple folded cloth helps babies stay comfortable and settled while still giving clinicians the access they need. The project found benefits including calmer babies, smoother procedures and less physical strain for staff.

The work, led by Shibymol Thannickal Mathew, Developmental Care Lead Nurse, with support from colleagues across the Neonatal Team, has attracted interest from neonatal professionals around the country, with another NHS team already seeking Hillingdon's help to introduce the technique.

She said: “It was a proud moment to represent our unit on a national platform and share a project that has made a real difference to our babies and our staff.”

This shows how teamwork and a simple, low-cost change can make a real difference to patient care and thank you to everyone involved in this project.

Picture: Shibymol presenting at the conference (left) and as part of a team learning exercise in the Neonatal Department at Hillingdon