Parents and babies will now be able to stay closer together whilst staying in hospital following the introduction of new hot cots on Royal Bolton Hospital’s post-natal ward.
Funded by Our Bolton NHS Charity, the hot cots will support babies on the post-natal ward to maintain their body temperature and treat cases of hypothermia, with the aim of reducing admissions to the Neonatal Unit.
Hot cots use a heated mattress to allow parents and care givers to have full contact with their baby by removing the physical barrier of an incubator.
Janet Cotton, Director of Midwifery at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:
The funding of hot cots from Our Bolton NHS Charity allows us to take a step further in the provision of safer, personalised and equitable care to families in Bolton.
“Hot cots will ensure babies who are struggling to regulate their own body temperature can continue to receive the care they need, whilst parents and those providing care can be even closer to their baby to optimise bonding at such an important stage.
“We’re able to use the hot cots to provide more specialised care on our post-natal ward, G4, reducing the need for admission to our Neonatal Unit and helping our families to return to the comfort of home sooner.
Evidence from NHS Improvements shows active warming of vulnerable babies can reduce complications and improve outcomes, reducing unexpected admissions of term babies to the Neonatal Unit.
Sarah Skinner, Charity Manager at Our Bolton NHS Charity, said:
Having a baby who needs extra care and support after birth is difficult enough without the added stress of an admission to NNU and extended hospital stay.
“Thanks to our donors and fundraisers, we can help keep more families together during their time in hospital and get families home sooner so they can enjoy this new and exciting phase in their life.
To find out more about the work of Our Bolton NHS Charity, please visit Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s website.