Relocated and expanded RCH neonatal unit welcomes first babies

An expanded neonatal unit has opened at Royal Cornwall Hospital. The unit remains on the first floor Princess Alexandra Wing, but is now located in the former Wheal Fortune ward, next to the delivery suite.

Unit Sister Rachel Bailey says: "We're absolutely delighted with the new unit. It's so much bigger and brighter. At long last we've got the space we need to provide better care to support parents and families, as well as for the babies. There's so much more room for all of the hi-tech equipment that we need to have on hand and that just didn't exist when our old unit was built. We'd certainly outgrown the old space."

The relocated neonatal unit adds a further three bedrooms, increasing the total to five. It offers greater space to improve privacy, a dedicated waiting room with children's play area for siblings, a baby change room, a breastfeeding room and a consulting room for the medical team to see their patients.

The project was supported by The Cornwall Birth & Baby Appeal (BABA) and fundraising will support extras on the neonatal unit which are still to be added, as well as for the new birthing unit and maternity services as a whole.