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New Special Care Unit for St. Peter’s Hospital
Written by Communications Team   

St. Peter’s Hospital is proud to announce a new 9 bed Special Care Unit for mothers and their babies. The new SCU is replacing the old 6 bed transitional care unit and will be part of, and managed by, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It will be staffed by neonatal nurses and led by Sister Therese Nursey.

Therese explains, “The aim of the SCU is to keep mother and baby together when the baby needs extra special care, for example when the baby is premature, needs monitoring, and/or requires IV fluids.” She continues, “Preventing separation of the mother and baby allows for quicker bonding, less anxiety, and establishes feeding faster. Subsequently this promotes earlier discharge, so less time is spent in hospital, and also prevents unnecessary admissions to the NICU.”


From Left to Right: Senior Nurse Louise Hall, Senior Nurse Rebecca Parson, Matron Audrey Elmore (who has now left) and Sister Therese Nursey.


The Special Care Unit at St. Peter’s is located on the first floor of Abbey Wing in the Joan Booker Ward. Admissions to the new unit can be either directly after delivery or babies who have previously received care in NICU and are nearly ready for discharge.



The new SCU has 6 beds for transitional care, 3 beds for special care babies with monitors and access to IV fluids, plus a treatment room for ward attendees where babies’ blood tests and doctor’s reviews can take place. The extra 3 beds for special care babies will release cot space on NICU for sicker babies.

Last Updated ( Monday, 22 August 2011 08:09 )