A model for the successful implementation of BAPM NSQI 3: Parental partnership in care

Updated Neonatal Service and Quality Standards from the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) in 2022 highlighted the importance of involving parents in service development. We undertook a project to implement this through a semi-qualitative exit interview at discharge or transfer to gather meaningful feedback from families of babies cared for in our unit. This article summarises the process and thematic analysis of the exit interview transcripts, highlighting the service improvements implemented as a result of the feedback.

Dr Rishini Wanigasekara
ST5 Paediatric Registrar

Dr Elizabeth Dunn
Neonatal Consultant

Dr Vennila Ponnusamy
Neonatal Consultant
vennilaponnusamy@nhs.net

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, St Peter’s Hospital, Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust, Chertsey

Wanigasekara R., Dunn E., Ponnusamy V. A model for the successful implementation of BAPM NSQI 3: Parental partnership in care. Infant 2025; 21(4): 93-98.

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Keywords

feedback; service development; family integrated care; qualitative study; thematic analysis; parent empowerment; peer support

Key points

Interview with parents through semi-structured open-ended questions allowed for gathering meaningful feedback
A strong platform was provided for incorporating BAPM neonatal service and quality indicator relating to parent involvement in service development
Successful introduction of changes to the service because of the feedback promotes an open culture to all members of the team.

Also published in Infant:

VOLUME 22 ISSUE 1/FEBRUARY 2026

Introducing virtual ward rounds in a level 2 unit to improve parental attendance: a qualitative study

Parental participation in ward rounds is a key performance indicator for neonatal care, tracked by the National Neonatal Audit Programme. Despite British Association of Perinatal Medicine guidelines promoting family integrated care, our unit has consistently underperformed in this area. Parental feedback highlighted local challenges, leading to the adoption of the NHS Attend Anywhere web-based platform to enable remote participation. Virtual ward rounds (VWR) use secure video technology to facilitate remote collaboration among neonatal care teams and to involve parents when in-person attendance is limited. This study assessed the feasibility of implementing VWRs in a level two neonatal unit, with a focus on improving access for families.