New facilities are making a positive difference to babies and families at Wishaw General Hospital.

The new special care baby unit (SCBU) and transitional care unit (TUC) opened at the hospital in June.

Adele Miller, whose third daughter Ellie was looked after in the SCBU, said: “All three of my daughters were born at Wishaw General Hospital and the staff have always been amazing.

“However, with Ellie being premature, this is the first experience I have had of a special care baby unit. I have to say the staff and the facilities are fantastic. The care and support given to Ellie and to us as a family was second to none.”

A report on Maternity and Neonatal Services in Scotland was published in January 2017. It examined choice, quality and safety of maternity and neonatal services, in consultation with the workforce, NHS Boards and service users.

Wendy Drysdale, Senior Midwife, Women’s Services and Neonatal, said: “In line with the national recommendations, our new units were designed with women and families from the outset, and put mother and baby together at the centre of service planning and delivery as one entity.

“Our staff have worked creatively to come up with the best place to house these units using the available space.”

The new units means the maternity services now has four transitional care rooms.

These rooms are for babies who require minimal special care or assistance can stay with, and be cared for by their mother or father, in a specially designated room under support and guidance of appropriately trained staff.

Karen Creer, Senior Charge Midwife for SCBU and TCU, said: “It is so important for parents to be given as much opportunity as possible to bond with their babies and even more so if those babies have additional care needs.”