Key Takeaways
- A video messaging app has been launched at King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital to keep families connected with their premature babies in NICUs.
- The app allows staff to send secure updates, including photos and videos, to help families engage with their baby’s care.
- Parents can also use the app to ask questions and receive updates about their baby’s progress, enhancing support and reducing separation anxiety.
New App Enhances Family Connection in NICUs
A new video messaging app has been introduced at King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital to aid families with premature infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Developed with funding from King’s College Hospital Charity, this app enables healthcare professionals to securely share regular photo and video updates with families.
This innovative approach allows families to witness significant moments in their baby’s care, including play sessions, baths, and feeding times—activities they might otherwise miss due to the circumstances. Dr. Anusha Arasu, a consultant in neonatal medicine at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, emphasized that a NICU stay can be particularly stressful for families. The app is designed to promote parental involvement and emotional bonding with their baby, even if they cannot be present in the hospital.
Dr. Arasu stated, “The app not only allows us to share photographs and updates with parents but helps to reduce separation anxiety and enables the whole family to create and build an emotional bond with their baby.” Alongside updates, families are able to use the app to ask questions about their babies’ health and receive crucial progress reports.
Iona Joy, director of grants and insight at King’s College Hospital Charity, articulated the initiative’s significance, saying, “Keeping families connected is a vital part of our mission to make the best care possible at King’s. We are thrilled to support this initiative, which helps families feel close to their babies even when they can’t be physically present.”
The fledgling app has been well-received by families, including Dr. Numan Shahid and Dr. Hajar Husain, whose daughter was born prematurely at 27 weeks and spent time in the NICU. Dr. Shahid expressed gratitude for the app, noting that it provides uplifting updates during his work hours. He remarked, “We are profoundly grateful to the entire NICU team at King’s for their extraordinary care, dedication, and for giving families like ours this wonderful opportunity to stay connected and involved in our baby’s journey.”
This initiative follows the launch of another child-friendly app, Little Journey, which caters to patients in the NICU at Lister Hospital. Originally designed to assist children preparing for surgery, Little Journey has been adapted to meet the specific needs of families with infants receiving neonatal care.
The introduction of these applications underscores a commitment to enhancing family support in NICUs, fostering meaningful connections even during challenging times.
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