Neonatology

The Neonatology Department provides inpatient and follow-up care for sick and premature (preterm) babies.

Neonatal Care

Irrespective of the gestational age, certain infants require neonatal care. Macclesfield Hospital houses a Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) equipped with eight cots/incubators and a dedicated team capable of delivering specialised, high-dependency, and short-term intensive care for babies born at 32 weeks gestation and beyond.

Babies born before 32 weeks of gestation may be transferred to a nearby neonatal unit or neonatal intensive care unit for ongoing intensive care, later returning to Macclesfield as their condition stabilises. The unit also admits infants from other regional maternity units.

Our Services

For parents' convenience, we provide a kitchen for preparing simple meals. An overnight stay is facilitated with a double bedroom featuring a television and shower facilities, allowing parents to gain confidence in independently caring for their baby before heading home. Each family is allocated a small lockable cupboard for secure storage, and a collection of toys is available for siblings.

Parents and siblings are encouraged to visit the unit at any time with open 24hr access. Grandparents have open access during the daytime. Other Visitors are welcome between 6pm -8pm, with a maximum of 4 people per cot.

Babies will be discharged when they demonstrate weight gain, can feed independently, and no longer require hospital treatment.

Neonatal Care Mission Statement

Our objective is for the entire team to deliver high-quality, individualised care for infants and their families, utilising evidenced based practice and knowledge.

Infants will receive care in an environment tailored to their medical, developmental, and social needs. Parents and infants have the right to expect expert care from a well-trained, supervised multidisciplinary team.

We honour parents' views and wishes, fostering the development of their parenting role by providing information, guidance, and support tailored to their unique needs. Recognising the importance of partnership in care, we believe that mutual trust and effective communication, maintaining privacy and confidentiality, can achieve this.

To find out more, please contact the Special Care Baby Unit on 01625 663408/ office:1147

Ward Managers: Claire Burgess and Rachel Bellingham

We are part of the North West Neonatal Operational Delivery Network