SCBU receives top accreditation from Bliss charity | News

Congratulations to staff in our Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) who were presented with their Platinum Bliss accreditation plaque this week by representatives from the charity.

The Platinum award is the highest level of recognition from Bliss charity, which supports parents of premature or sick babies.

Highlighting the team’s achievements, Bliss assessors praised the family-led approach to ward rounds, their proactive outreach team, psychological support for families at home and strong support from senior hospital leadership.

Giezl Pulanco, Senior Sister and Manager of SCBU, said: “It’s important to recognise that this award is not easily achieved. The standards are rigorous, and the assessment process is thorough and evidence-based, incorporating audits, staff and family interviews and a close look at the real experiences of families in our care.

“We are proud of what we’ve achieved, and committed to continuing this journey, listening, learning, and improving every step of the way. This award belongs to every member of the team, and to every family who has helped shape who we are today.”

After first committing to achieving the Bliss Baby Charter standards in 2017, SCBU achieved the Bronze standard in 2019, followed by Silver and Gold in 2022.

Karen Plews, Professional Director of Midwifery and Paediatric Nursing, said: “Our Platinum Bliss accreditation is a result of the hard work, dedication and commitment of a team of experienced neonatal clinicians. Our nurses and doctors understand the benefits of family-centred and integrated care and this has culminated in Royal Surrey being one of only five Trusts to have achieved the high standards expected by Bliss.

“The accreditation process, along with engagement with our Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership has guided the quality improvement work that has taken place. I am proud to work with a team who are happy to co-design their services and put their families first.”

Far from resting on their laurels, SCBU staff are already looking ahead to their next project, and will be creating a digital resource hub for families, bringing together information from Bliss, the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative, and key SCBU resources to better support and empower families.