Northern Trust neonatal unit celebrates landmark achievement

PICTURED ABOVE: Back row, left-right, Jackie Quigg, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Kathie Dobbin, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Charlene McKee, TinyLife Family Support Officer, Suzie Forbes, Enhanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Lisa Rafferty with baby Leo, Ward Sister Karen Devlin, Lisa Rainey, physiotherapist, front row, left - right, Nikaela Simpson with baby James and Lucy Finn with baby Jacob.

The neonatal unit at Antrim Area Hospital has become the first in Northern Ireland to receive the Gold accreditation award from the Bliss Baby Charter.

The team were officially awarded their accreditation by Bliss Chief Executive Caroline Lee-Davey. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Northern Ireland’s Chief Midwifery Officer, Caroline Keown, were also in attendance.

The Bliss Baby Charter is a detailed framework which helps neonatal units assess and audit the service they provide to babies and families and is a key tool in delivering excellent family centred care and evidencing the positive difference it makes.

Northern Trust Interim Chief Executive, Suzanne Pullins, said: “I am immensely proud of our multi-disciplinary neonatal unit team. To be recognised at this level by the Bliss Baby Charter is not only an outstanding achievement, but it is also so richly deserved.

Back row: Dr Conor O’Neill, Ward Sister Karen Devlin, Lead Nurse Paediatrics and Neonatology, Shirley Montgomery, Dr Lynne McFetridge, Dr Aiveen Higgins, middle row, physiotherapist, Lisa Rainey, TinyLife Family Support Worker, Charlene McKee, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Kathie Dobbin, Bliss Chief Executive, Caroline Lee-Davey, Tinylife Chief Executive, Joanne Morgan, front row, Enhanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Suzie Forbes, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Jackie Quigg, Chief Midwifery Officer, Caroline Keown, and Northern Trust Interim Chief Executive Suzanne Pullins celebrate the Bliss Gold accreditation.

“My heartfelt thanks to all the staff in the unit who go above and beyond every day and whose professionalism and compassion shines through in everything that they do.”

Ms Pullins, continued: “This is an exciting time across the organisation with our neonatal unit continuing to be recognised at the highest levels, and construction of our £5.7m Alongside Midwifery-Led Unit at Antrim Area Hospital progressing well. These developments reflect our commitment to strengthening and improving the services we provide to families right across the Trust area.”

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Shirley Montgomery, Lead Nurse Paediatrics and Neonatology, said: “We are honoured to receive this recognition. The team has undertaken a lot of work to move through the Charter levels – we received the Silver accreditation earlier in the year and are delighted to have now achieved Gold.

“Everyone in the team is so passionate and committed to providing the highest levels of care to the babies and families in our unit. We want to give each and every one of them the very best start in life and I think this is reflected in the Charter.”

Congratulating the Northern Trust, Bliss Chief Executive, Caroline Lee-Davey, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the team at Antrim Area Hospital – we are delighted that the unit is now the first in Northern Ireland to be awarded Bliss Baby Charter Gold accreditation.

"Throughout the process, it has been clear that the team is delivering the highest level of family-integrated care for all babies, which we know is best for these babies and their families. The whole team should rightly be very proud of their achievement – well done!”