Our neonatal homecare team has celebrated a major milestone after successfully supporting its 1000th baby through its innovative home phototherapy service for newborn jaundice.
Baby Fernandes became the 1000th baby to receive treatment through the service after being referred to the Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (ANNP)-led jaundice clinic by a community midwife, when he was found to be jaundiced at home at just two days old.
Following assessment, baby Fernandes was able to receive phototherapy treatment safely at home with the support of the neonatal homecare team, completing his treatment successfully after four days and being discharged.
Before the introduction of home phototherapy, baby Fernandes would have required admission to hospital for the duration of his treatment. Instead, he was able to remain at home with his family while receiving the same high-quality care and daily monitoring from the specialist team.
Baby Fernandes’ parents said: “We feel incredibly lucky that our baby could be treated at home rather than spending those first precious days in hospital. The service allowed us to focus on bonding as a family while receiving expert support every step of the way. Knowing our baby was the 1000th to benefit from the service really highlights how many families have been helped in the same way.”
Claire Inglis, Lead Nurse for Neonatal Homecare, said: “Reaching 1000 babies is an incredible achievement and reflects the dedication, skill and commitment of our neonatal homecare and ANNP-led jaundice clinic teams. Every baby we support at home represents a family who can remain together during those precious early days, while ensuring babies continue to receive safe and effective treatment.
“We are particularly proud that this service continues to grow across the region, improving the experience of care for families and reducing the need for hospital admissions wherever it is clinically appropriate.”
The service, which launched at Leicester’s hospitals in January 2023, has transformed the care of babies with jaundice by allowing eligible newborns to receive phototherapy treatment at home rather than in hospital. Before the service was introduced, babies with jaundice would routinely be admitted to hospital for phototherapy treatment.
Of the 1000 babies supported so far, 813 have been cared for through Leicester’s service, with 100 babies supported at Northampton General Hospital and 87 at Kettering General Hospital.
The success of the service has also enabled a hub-and-spoke model across the region. Leicester supported Northampton General Hospital to establish its own home phototherapy service in September 2023, followed by Kettering General Hospital in April 2024. Just one week before this milestone, Northampton General Hospital celebrated supporting its 100th baby through the service.
Families continue to praise the benefits of receiving treatment at home using phototherapy equipment provided by the neonatal homecare team, supported by daily monitoring and expert clinical oversight.
As well as home phototherapy, the neonatal homecare team provides a range of services including home oxygen support and feeding tube care, helping babies who need additional support to spend more time at home with their families.