New app helps families stay connected with their premature babies

An app that has been funded through King’s College Hospital Charity allows staff on neonatal intensive care units at King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) to send regular photo and video updates securely to families, allowing them to see play and therapy sessions, baths and feeding times. Families can also use the app to ask questions and receive important updates about their baby’s progress.

Jade Clark from Petts Wood has been using the app to receive updates on her twin daughters Tennesse and Tallulah, who were born prematurely at 32 weeks and are receiving care on the neonatal unit at PRUH. Jade says: “It has been really hard to leave my little girls for any amount of time, so being able to keep in touch through the app makes a huge difference. Seeing photos of them both doing well is a joy and gives extra reassurance when we can’t be there.”

Dr Anusha Arasu, Consultant in Neonatal Medicine at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, says: “A stay on a neonatal unit can be one of the most stressful times for a family, but we can now support parents to be more involved, and more connected to their baby’s care, as well as making a positive impact in delivering family centred care, even when they are not able to be at hospital. The app not only allows us to share photographs and updates with parents but helps to reduce separation anxiety and allows the whole family to create and build an emotional bond with their baby.”

Iona Joy, Director of Grants and Insight at King’s College Hospital Charity, adds: “Keeping families connected is a vital part of our mission to make the best care possible at King’s. We are thrilled to support this initiative, which helps families feel close to their babies even when they can’t be physically present.”