Hospital Trust awarded Gold Charter for care of premature and sick babies

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) has been awarded a Gold Baby Charter Award by the charity Bliss for the care provided to premature and sick babies.

The Neonatal Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, achieved the highest level of the Bliss Baby Charter following an assessment which showed that the Unit has strong procedures, practices and facilities in place to support parents and carers as partners in their baby’s care.

The Bliss Baby Charter is a national framework used to assess neonatal units and ensure that every premature or sick baby receives the best possible chance of survival and quality of life.

Bliss was founded in 1979 by parents who discovered that no hospital had all the equipment or trained staff needed to safely care for these babies.

Assessors found that the Telford Unit demonstrated a high level of teamwork across all professional groups. A dedicated Allied Health Professional and Psychological (AHP&P) team is fully embedded within the wider multidisciplinary team.

Regular communication, including daily huddles, supports a coordinated approach to care. Staff showed a strong understanding of families’ needs and valued the role parents play in their baby’s care, including supporting their emotional wellbeing.

Key areas highlighted during the assessment included:

- A full, dedicated AHP team providing coordinated care to meet the complex needs of babies and their families.

- Improvements to food provision after feedback that some families were unaware of what was available. The Unit housekeeper now visits families each morning to take meal requests, and a second microwave has been added to the parent kitchen.

- Ample camp beds at cot side, alongside existing overnight flats, so parents can stay close to their baby.

- Clear timetable posters showing when AHP&P staff and the Breastfeeding Lead are on the Unit.

- Outstanding psychological support with all family members able to access help when needed.

Parents also shared their experiences during the assessment:

Michaela Howells, mum to Freddie, born at 34 weeks +5 days, said: “Tiny patients – extraordinary care. The neonatal unit has made all the difference for my family and our baby. This unit has given our tiny fighter the strongest start.”

Alarna, mum to Charlie, 34 weeks +3days, said: “Being on the Neonatal Unit puts you in the best position to be equipped for looking after your pre-term baby. I look back on it as such a positive experience that I am grateful for.”

Bronwyn, mum to Jessica born at 28 weeks, said: “The care and support I received made me realise I am a strong person. The impact of my psychology sessions made my time in neonatal a much more positive experience.”

Samantha Petridis, Neonatal Infant feeding lead and Bliss Charter lead, said: “Achieving Gold in the Bliss Baby Charter has been a long journey and I am incredibly proud to receive this award on behalf of the Telford Neonatal Unit.

“Over the years, we have made many meaningful improvements to better support babies and their families, including free parking, hospital-grade breast pumps at every cot space, hot meals for parents and camp beds so parents can stay close to their baby.

“Parents are central to everything we do. We involve them in their baby’s care, listen to their voices, and empower them as partners in their neonatal journey.

“This award reflects the dedication of our entire multidisciplinary team, who support families with compassion and commitment every day.”

Jo Williams, Group Chief Executive, said: “Achieving the Bliss Baby Charter Gold Award is a proud moment for our Trust. It reflects the outstanding commitment of our neonatal teams who work every day to give premature and sick babies the safest and strongest start in life.

“Our staff place families at the heart of care, making sure parents feel supported, informed and involved at every stage. I want to thank every member of the team for their dedication, compassion and hard work, and to thank our families for the trust they place in us.