Parental and staff experiences of restricted parental presence on a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during COVID-19

Aim The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on parental presence in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) during the first wave. The NICU team at the Rosie Hospital, Cambridge, endeavoured to explore the impact on parent and staff experiences of supporting parents throughout the period when visiting was restricted, between 13th August and 11th September 2020. Methods Bespoke surveys were designed following the first lockdown to gather information on the impact on staff and parents. The questions were developed in the context of initial observations and conversations with staff and parents. Results The findings of this study have illustrated the extent of the restrictions on parental wellbeing and mood, with the restrictions having had an adverse effect on these. In addition, the findings illustrate the adverse effect that the parents reported due to the restricted presence in terms of their babies' wellbeing, parent-infant bonding, partners' wellbeing, parental confidence, the ability to breastfeed confidently and parents' access to the medical teams. Conclusion The findings of this study have a number of clinical implications for parents and staff. Namely, the data supported the decision not to close NICU again during the second and third waves.

Automated summary

The study has shown that restrictions on parental presence in NICU during the pandemic have had a significant adverse effect on parents' wellbeing and mood, as well as their babies' wellbeing, parent-infant bonding, partners' wellbeing, parental confidence, ability to breastfeed confidently, and access to medical teams. The findings have implications for clinical practice, supporting the decision not to close NICU during subsequent waves of the pandemic.