About us

GGC Neonatal
NHS GGC


A stay in neonatal care - An animated guide

Welcome to the Neonatal Unit at the Princess Royal Maternity. We are a neonatal intensive care unit, providing care for premature and newborn infants. We care for infants born as early as 22 weeks, in addition to bigger babies born with respiratory problems, infections, low blood sugars, jaundice, and other common problems in the newborn period.

We understand and appreciate the worry and concern having baby in the neonatal unit. However our dedicated team are all here to help and support you during your baby’s stay.

We are part of the Scottish Perinatal Network with all neonatal units across Scotland, to ensure that babies get the right care, at the right time, in the right place, and as close as possible to home. In particular we work very closely with our sister neonatal units across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in both the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Children. We work together to provide a comprehensive model of neonatal care for all babies born in the area, specific to your baby’s needs. For babies with more complex needs, such as cardiac or surgical problems, we liaise closely with our paediatric specialty colleagues in the Royal Hospital for Children.

Unit layout

Our neonatal unit is made up of multiple areas all across one level. We have 4 areas of care:

  • Intensive Care
  • High Dependency
  • Special Care
  • Rooming in Suite

Depending on your baby’s medical needs, they will be cared for in any of the above areas. As your baby’s needs change, they may move to the different areas within the unit.

Thumbnail image of the PRM neonatal unit map
You can see a map of the unit here.

The smallest and sickest babies are cared for in intensive care or high dependency, and our special care is for babies establishing feeds and getting near to home. Our Rooming in Suite is a fantastic facility for parents to come in to the unit and stay with their baby while preparing for discharge home.

You will notice the level of monitoring and staffing in these areas differ, but will be appropriate to your baby’s needs as their journey progresses. Moving to a different area can be an anxious time for parents, but staff are here to support you and familiarise you with your new surroundings.

Meet our team

We are a large team made up of a number of different professions. During your baby’s stay on the neonatal unit, there will be a number of different people you will meet, all with specialist skills in caring for your baby. These may include:

  • Neonatal Doctors (Consultants, registrars, junior doctors)
  • Neonatal Nurses
  • Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
  • Community Liaison Team
  • Pharmacists
  • Infant Feeding Support
  • Psychologists
  • Speech and Language Therapists
  • Physiotherapists

Our Consultant Neonatologists coordinate your baby’s care on the unit. We have a team of 9 Consultants:

  • Dr Carolyn Abernethy (Neonatal Clinical Lead)
  • Dr Chris Lilley
  • Dr Tomasz Dygas
  • Dr Allan Jackson
  • Dr Lynsey Still
  • Dr Thomas Marriage
  • Dr Karen Walsh
  • Dr Maria Duggan
  • Dr Julie Aitken (Locum Consultant)

Nursing Staff

We have a large team of nurses in the unit. Our senior nursing staff take charge of the unit day to day, and coordinate the nursing care for your baby. Our senior nursing team includes:

  • Susan Heron (Designated Senior Charge Nurse)
  • Jacquie Bishop
  • Carol Anderson
  • Sheryl McKellar
  • Anna Malcolm
  • Chisenga Sitembo
  • Emma Willox
  • Claire Macleod
  • Jennifer McCann
  • Gillian Sinclair
  • Katrina Herbert

Ward rounds

  • Ward rounds are led by a senior member of the medical team. They occur daily between 09:00 and 12:00.
  • We have a family centered ethos in our unit, and aim to keep parents involved in their baby’s care as much as possible. We encourage parents to be present at the ward round, to ensure they are kept up to date, and provide an opportunity to ask questions.
  • Out with ward rounds, our team of nurses and doctors can provide daily updates. The Consultant of the week during daytime hours is usually the most appropriate person to give you an overall update on your baby’s progress. The Consultant is generally available on the ward round, and out with this if you would like to speak to them, please ask a member of the team who can organise this for you.

Discharge planning

Please watch this video to understand how we prepare you and your baby to get ready for discharge home.


A stay in neonatal care: preparing to take your baby home

See also: Neonatal Community Liaison service page

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 30/10/2024

Next review date: 30/10/2026

Approved By: PRM Neonatal Team