About us

GGC Neonatal
NHS GGC

Welcome to the Neonatal Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. We are a level 2 neonatal unit, providing neonatal care for babies born over 28 weeks gestation. We provide a family centred model of care and we aim to empower parents to look after their babies from their first day on the neonatal unit.

We understand and appreciate the worry and concern that you will have if your child has to spend time with us after they are born. However our dedicated team are all here to help and support you during your baby’s stay on the neonatal unit.

Our neonatal unit has 16 cots spread throughout the unit. We also have a family room available within the neonatal unit, allowing parents to have some support caring for their baby prior to going home. You can see a map of the unit here.

We are part of the Scottish Perinatal Network and work closely with all neonatal units across the country to facilitate transfer of babies closer to home as soon as possible. Our neonatal transport team colleagues at ScotSTAR undertake the transfer of babies requiring neonatal care. We have a particularly special relationship with our sister neonatal units across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in both the Royal Hospital for Children and The Princess Royal Maternity. We work closely with both other units to provide a comprehensive model of neonatal care for all babies born within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.


A stay in neonatal care - An animated guide

Meet out team

During your baby’s stay on the neonatal unit, there will be a number of different professionals involved in their care. These may include:

  • Neonatal Nurses
  • Nursery Nurses
  • Doctors
    • Neonatologists
    • Trainee Doctors
  • Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
  • Speech and Language Therapists
  • Infant Feeding Support Team Members
  • Physiotherapists
  • Pharmacists
  • Community Liaison Nurse
  • Neonatal Psychologists

 

There is always a Consultant covering the Neonatal Unit 24 hours a day. Our Consultant Neonatologists work between the Royal Hospital for Children and Royal Alexandra Hospital. They will coordinate all aspects of your babies’ medical care on the unit.

Our Consultant Neonatologists are:

  • Dr Hilary Conetta – Clinical Lead
  • Dr Colin Peters
  • Dr Kathleen O’Reilly
  • Dr Martina Rodie
  • Dr Jennifer Mitchell
  • Dr Andrew Brunton
  • Dr Cliodhna Godden
  • Dr Andrew MacLaren

Other Consultant Neonatologists will also cover the neonatal unit in the evenings and at weekends.

 

Our senior charge nurse is Lois Moffat. Lois leads our specialist nursing team within the neonatal unit. We also have a number of charge nurses who will coordinate with the bedside nurse regarding your babies’ care during their stay with us.

Our Charge Nurses are:

  • Fiona Scott
  • Carol Farren
  • Lorna MacKenzie
  • Bernadette Stevens
  • Claire Hunter
  • Karen Kilna

Intensive care (ICU), High dependency (HDU), Special Care (SBCU) and Rooming in

Depending on your baby’s medical needs, they may be in ICU, HDU, SCBU or the family room.

As your baby’s medical needs change and they are progressing towards discharge, they will move from the higher levels of care (ICU/HDU) to the lower dependency areas (SCBU/family room). The levels of monitoring and staffing in these areas different but appropriate to your baby’s needs as their journey progresses.

Moving to a different care areas can be an anxious time for parents but staff can help with this by showing you round the new area and explain how things work there.

Ward rounds

Ward rounds are led by a senior member of the neonatal team. They occur daily between 09:00 and 12:00. We may also see your baby jointly with other doctors from different specialties depending on the reason for your baby’s admission.

We always encourage parents to be present at the ward round and to ask any questions at this time.

We aim to keep parents involved and up to date with your baby’s care. If you would like to speak to the Consultant looking after your baby, please ask a member of the team who can organise this for you. A Consultant is always available on site from 9-5, Monday to Friday. Additionally they will be present for the weekend morning ward rounds, if not also later into the day.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 11/06/2024

Next review date: 11/06/2026

Approved By: RAH Neonatal Team