Latest news with #NeonatalIntensiveCareUnit
7NEWS
5 days ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
Nurses rally over sick bubs 'parked in cramped unit'
Nurses and parents of premature babies are battling to find space in a tight intensive care unit, using a former storeroom at one of Australia's busiest hospitals. About 80 nurses at Westmead Hospital supported their overworked colleagues from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in western Sydney by walking out on Monday lunchtime. They made their voices heard after their repeated complaints about the lack of beds, space or staff to treat preterm babies with critical care issues went unanswered by the hospital's management and senior public health officials. 'Having to double- or triple-park sick babies into a cramped area that was originally a storeroom is not what the people of western Sydney should expect in 2025,' NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association president O'Bray Smith said. 'Staff are leaving, cutting their hours, or switching from full-time to part-time hours because of the stress and demoralising conditions.' About one in six newborns pass through a NICU or lower-acuity special care nursery each year, official figures say. Westmead's NICU, catering for more than 2.5 million residents in western Sydney, is one of a handful in Australia capable of the highest level of complex medical care, known as level six. The 44-bed unit is staffed for 80 per cent capacity but has been surging to 140 per cent due to a sharp increase in the number and complexity of babies needing critical care, the nurses' union says. Parents of premature children are sometimes forced to trek to Newcastle or Canberra because of overcrowded conditions at Westmead, the union says. Smith said the NICU's design layout remained a major challenge, with parents and staff fighting to find space among life-saving machines and tubes. 'It wasn't designed over two decades ago with massive population growth in mind,' she said. The union wants the unit increased to 50 beds and a minimum of 24 nurses working per shift, up from 21, to help deliver safe neonatal care. Premier Chris Minns has vowed to learn more about the situation before committing to any increased funding, a day before the state's budget. 'Paediatric work in major public hospitals in western Sydney in particular is hard, and we need them,' he said on Monday. 'The work that they do every single day, the miracles that they perform, the lives that they save, is incredible. 'When it comes to the specifics of Westmead, of course, we'll listen about patient care.'
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
Nurses rally over sick bubs 'parked in cramped unit'
Nurses and parents of premature babies are battling to find space in a tight intensive care unit, using a former storeroom at one of Australia's busiest hospitals. About 80 nurses at Westmead Hospital supported their overworked colleagues from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in western Sydney by walking out on Monday lunchtime. They made their voices heard after their repeated complaints about the lack of beds, space or staff to treat preterm babies with critical care issues went unanswered by the hospital's management and senior public health officials. "Having to double- or triple-park sick babies into a cramped area that was originally a storeroom is not what the people of western Sydney should expect in 2025," NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association president O'Bray Smith said. "Staff are leaving, cutting their hours, or switching from full-time to part-time hours because of the stress and demoralising conditions." About one in six newborns pass through a NICU or lower-acuity special care nursery each year, official figures say Westmead's NICU, catering for more than 2.5 million residents in western Sydney, is one of a handful in Australia capable of the highest level of complex medical care, known as level six. The 44-bed unit is staffed for 80 per cent capacity, but has been surging to 140 per cent due to a sharp increase in the number and complexity of babies needing critical care, the nurses' union says. Parents of premature children are sometimes forced to trek to Newcastle or Canberra because of overcrowded conditions at Westmead, the union says. Ms Smith said the NICU's design layout remained a major challenge, with parents and staff fighting to find space among life-saving machines and tubes. "It wasn't designed over two decades ago with massive population growth in mind," she said. The union wants the unit increased to 50 beds and a minimum of 24 nurses working per shift, up from 21, to help deliver safe neonatal care. Premier Chris Minns has vowed to learn more about the situation before committing to any increased funding, a day before the state's budget. "Paediatric work in major public hospitals in western Sydney in particular is hard, and we need them," he said on Monday. "The work that they do every single day, the miracles that they perform, the lives that they save, is incredible. "When it comes to the specifics of Westmead, of course, we'll listen about patient care." Nurses and parents of premature babies are battling to find space in a tight intensive care unit, using a former storeroom at one of Australia's busiest hospitals. About 80 nurses at Westmead Hospital supported their overworked colleagues from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in western Sydney by walking out on Monday lunchtime. They made their voices heard after their repeated complaints about the lack of beds, space or staff to treat preterm babies with critical care issues went unanswered by the hospital's management and senior public health officials. "Having to double- or triple-park sick babies into a cramped area that was originally a storeroom is not what the people of western Sydney should expect in 2025," NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association president O'Bray Smith said. "Staff are leaving, cutting their hours, or switching from full-time to part-time hours because of the stress and demoralising conditions." About one in six newborns pass through a NICU or lower-acuity special care nursery each year, official figures say Westmead's NICU, catering for more than 2.5 million residents in western Sydney, is one of a handful in Australia capable of the highest level of complex medical care, known as level six. The 44-bed unit is staffed for 80 per cent capacity, but has been surging to 140 per cent due to a sharp increase in the number and complexity of babies needing critical care, the nurses' union says. Parents of premature children are sometimes forced to trek to Newcastle or Canberra because of overcrowded conditions at Westmead, the union says. Ms Smith said the NICU's design layout remained a major challenge, with parents and staff fighting to find space among life-saving machines and tubes. "It wasn't designed over two decades ago with massive population growth in mind," she said. The union wants the unit increased to 50 beds and a minimum of 24 nurses working per shift, up from 21, to help deliver safe neonatal care. Premier Chris Minns has vowed to learn more about the situation before committing to any increased funding, a day before the state's budget. "Paediatric work in major public hospitals in western Sydney in particular is hard, and we need them," he said on Monday. "The work that they do every single day, the miracles that they perform, the lives that they save, is incredible. "When it comes to the specifics of Westmead, of course, we'll listen about patient care." Nurses and parents of premature babies are battling to find space in a tight intensive care unit, using a former storeroom at one of Australia's busiest hospitals. About 80 nurses at Westmead Hospital supported their overworked colleagues from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in western Sydney by walking out on Monday lunchtime. They made their voices heard after their repeated complaints about the lack of beds, space or staff to treat preterm babies with critical care issues went unanswered by the hospital's management and senior public health officials. "Having to double- or triple-park sick babies into a cramped area that was originally a storeroom is not what the people of western Sydney should expect in 2025," NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association president O'Bray Smith said. "Staff are leaving, cutting their hours, or switching from full-time to part-time hours because of the stress and demoralising conditions." About one in six newborns pass through a NICU or lower-acuity special care nursery each year, official figures say Westmead's NICU, catering for more than 2.5 million residents in western Sydney, is one of a handful in Australia capable of the highest level of complex medical care, known as level six. The 44-bed unit is staffed for 80 per cent capacity, but has been surging to 140 per cent due to a sharp increase in the number and complexity of babies needing critical care, the nurses' union says. Parents of premature children are sometimes forced to trek to Newcastle or Canberra because of overcrowded conditions at Westmead, the union says. Ms Smith said the NICU's design layout remained a major challenge, with parents and staff fighting to find space among life-saving machines and tubes. "It wasn't designed over two decades ago with massive population growth in mind," she said. The union wants the unit increased to 50 beds and a minimum of 24 nurses working per shift, up from 21, to help deliver safe neonatal care. Premier Chris Minns has vowed to learn more about the situation before committing to any increased funding, a day before the state's budget. "Paediatric work in major public hospitals in western Sydney in particular is hard, and we need them," he said on Monday. "The work that they do every single day, the miracles that they perform, the lives that they save, is incredible. "When it comes to the specifics of Westmead, of course, we'll listen about patient care." Nurses and parents of premature babies are battling to find space in a tight intensive care unit, using a former storeroom at one of Australia's busiest hospitals. About 80 nurses at Westmead Hospital supported their overworked colleagues from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in western Sydney by walking out on Monday lunchtime. They made their voices heard after their repeated complaints about the lack of beds, space or staff to treat preterm babies with critical care issues went unanswered by the hospital's management and senior public health officials. "Having to double- or triple-park sick babies into a cramped area that was originally a storeroom is not what the people of western Sydney should expect in 2025," NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association president O'Bray Smith said. "Staff are leaving, cutting their hours, or switching from full-time to part-time hours because of the stress and demoralising conditions." About one in six newborns pass through a NICU or lower-acuity special care nursery each year, official figures say Westmead's NICU, catering for more than 2.5 million residents in western Sydney, is one of a handful in Australia capable of the highest level of complex medical care, known as level six. The 44-bed unit is staffed for 80 per cent capacity, but has been surging to 140 per cent due to a sharp increase in the number and complexity of babies needing critical care, the nurses' union says. Parents of premature children are sometimes forced to trek to Newcastle or Canberra because of overcrowded conditions at Westmead, the union says. Ms Smith said the NICU's design layout remained a major challenge, with parents and staff fighting to find space among life-saving machines and tubes. "It wasn't designed over two decades ago with massive population growth in mind," she said. The union wants the unit increased to 50 beds and a minimum of 24 nurses working per shift, up from 21, to help deliver safe neonatal care. Premier Chris Minns has vowed to learn more about the situation before committing to any increased funding, a day before the state's budget. "Paediatric work in major public hospitals in western Sydney in particular is hard, and we need them," he said on Monday. "The work that they do every single day, the miracles that they perform, the lives that they save, is incredible. "When it comes to the specifics of Westmead, of course, we'll listen about patient care."
West Australian
6 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Nurses rally over sick bubs 'parked in cramped unit'
Nurses and parents of premature babies are battling to find space in a tight intensive care unit, using a former storeroom at one of Australia's busiest hospitals. About 80 nurses at Westmead Hospital supported their overworked colleagues from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in western Sydney by walking out on Monday lunchtime. They made their voices heard after their repeated complaints about the lack of beds, space or staff to treat preterm babies with critical care issues went unanswered by the hospital's management and senior public health officials. "Having to double- or triple-park sick babies into a cramped area that was originally a storeroom is not what the people of western Sydney should expect in 2025," NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association president O'Bray Smith said. "Staff are leaving, cutting their hours, or switching from full-time to part-time hours because of the stress and demoralising conditions." About one in six newborns pass through a NICU or lower-acuity special care nursery each year, official figures say Westmead's NICU, catering for more than 2.5 million residents in western Sydney, is one of a handful in Australia capable of the highest level of complex medical care, known as level six. The 44-bed unit is staffed for 80 per cent capacity, but has been surging to 140 per cent due to a sharp increase in the number and complexity of babies needing critical care, the nurses' union says. Parents of premature children are sometimes forced to trek to Newcastle or Canberra because of overcrowded conditions at Westmead, the union says. Ms Smith said the NICU's design layout remained a major challenge, with parents and staff fighting to find space among life-saving machines and tubes. "It wasn't designed over two decades ago with massive population growth in mind," she said. The union wants the unit increased to 50 beds and a minimum of 24 nurses working per shift, up from 21, to help deliver safe neonatal care. Premier Chris Minns has vowed to learn more about the situation before committing to any increased funding, a day before the state's budget. "Paediatric work in major public hospitals in western Sydney in particular is hard, and we need them," he said on Monday. "The work that they do every single day, the miracles that they perform, the lives that they save, is incredible. "When it comes to the specifics of Westmead, of course, we'll listen about patient care."
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Nurses rally over sick bubs 'parked in cramped unit'
Nurses and parents of premature babies are battling to find space in a tight intensive care unit, using a former storeroom at one of Australia's busiest hospitals. About 80 nurses at Westmead Hospital supported their overworked colleagues from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in western Sydney by walking out on Monday lunchtime. They made their voices heard after their repeated complaints about the lack of beds, space or staff to treat preterm babies with critical care issues went unanswered by the hospital's management and senior public health officials. "Having to double- or triple-park sick babies into a cramped area that was originally a storeroom is not what the people of western Sydney should expect in 2025," NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association president O'Bray Smith said. "Staff are leaving, cutting their hours, or switching from full-time to part-time hours because of the stress and demoralising conditions." About one in six newborns pass through a NICU or lower-acuity special care nursery each year, official figures say Westmead's NICU, catering for more than 2.5 million residents in western Sydney, is one of a handful in Australia capable of the highest level of complex medical care, known as level six. The 44-bed unit is staffed for 80 per cent capacity, but has been surging to 140 per cent due to a sharp increase in the number and complexity of babies needing critical care, the nurses' union says. Parents of premature children are sometimes forced to trek to Newcastle or Canberra because of overcrowded conditions at Westmead, the union says. Ms Smith said the NICU's design layout remained a major challenge, with parents and staff fighting to find space among life-saving machines and tubes. "It wasn't designed over two decades ago with massive population growth in mind," she said. The union wants the unit increased to 50 beds and a minimum of 24 nurses working per shift, up from 21, to help deliver safe neonatal care. Premier Chris Minns has vowed to learn more about the situation before committing to any increased funding, a day before the state's budget. "Paediatric work in major public hospitals in western Sydney in particular is hard, and we need them," he said on Monday. "The work that they do every single day, the miracles that they perform, the lives that they save, is incredible. "When it comes to the specifics of Westmead, of course, we'll listen about patient care."
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
When the baby is in the NICU, who's caring for the mom? A new model is changing that
When a newborn lands in the NICU, all eyes turn to the tiniest patient in the room. But what happens to the person still recovering from labor and delivery—especially if they're battling physical complications or mental health challenges while sitting beside an incubator? Dr. Heather Burris, a neonatologist and senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI), noticed a disturbing pattern. 'In my job, I encounter parents choosing to stay with their babies in the NICU instead of seeking their own health care,' she said. Even when a mother has a potentially serious condition like postpartum hypertension or a surgical site infection, 'they must leave their baby's bedside and go to the closest emergency room, requiring separation from their baby to get care.' It's a gap in postpartum care that's hiding in plain sight. Related: 5 reasons why NICU parents might be more susceptible to depression and anxiety My daughter was born six weeks early and spent 10 days in the NICU. Even though her condition was stable, that stretch of time remains one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. There is nothing that can prepare you for seeing your tiny baby hooked up to machines helping them breathe—a vivid reminder of how fragile new life can be. In the days that followed her birth, I was battling more than exhaustion. I experienced symptoms of postpartum PTSD, but no one seemed to notice—not my loved ones, and not my medical team. I kept showing up at her bedside, putting on a brave face, even as I felt myself unraveling inside. Looking back, I wish one of the nurses or doctors had asked how I was doing, not just how she was. It might have saved me months of silent suffering. Related: When my youngest daughter was in the NICU, I felt like I was failing both of my kids A new randomized controlled trial, published in American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal-Fetal Medicine on May 5, 2025, is reimagining how care is delivered to these parents—by embedding it right where they are. The Postpartum Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PeliCaN) model brings doulas and nurse-midwives directly into the NICU, helping mothers access the care they urgently need without leaving their baby's side. 'Several of our control participants never had their blood pressure checked after they left the hospital after giving birth, even though they had telehealth visits,' Burris noted. In contrast, the 20 parents who received the PeliCaN intervention got care a median of 20 days earlier than the control group. They were also far less likely to miss vital components of postpartum care, like blood pressure checks. The doulas—deployed within the first week postpartum—offered both emotional and physical support. 'Doulas interact with mothers at least once in person, and follow up via phone, text, and video chat,' Burris explained. 'They help mothers overcome barriers to postpartum care.' That support made a meaningful difference. While nearly all study participants eventually received some form of postpartum care, Burris emphasized, '30% of controls were missing a core component of postpartum care, most often blood pressure measurements in the setting of telehealth visits.' Related: 5 ways I became a better labor & delivery nurse by being a NICU mama And in some cases, the intervention may have been life-saving. 'We found severe hypertension even in mothers who hadn't had hypertension before. Other mothers shared suicidal ideation requiring immediate intervention. I truly believe that doulas can be lifesaving.' What's next for maternal care innovationScaling this model will take time, training, and policy support—but Burris and her team are hopeful. Integrating maternal care into NICUs isn't just about convenience; it's about survival, dignity, and supporting mothers as whole people, not just caregivers. 'Her baby was in the NICU—but no one was checking on her.' That may soon change. Sources: LDI Blog Post: 'Parents of Hospitalized Infants Often Neglect Their Own Health Care' American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal-Fetal Medicine, May 2025 Publication Direct quotes from Dr. Heather Burris via LDI interview, June 4, 2025
