Caring for babies with life-limiting conditions, and supporting their families, brings its own set of challenges for the staff of neonatal palliative care units. A medical app, containing a clear set of principles and guidelines from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, is designed to underpin the care that staff provide through this difficult time.
The app, entitled Practical Guidance for the Management of Palliative Care on Neonatal Units, is the result of a creative and investment partnership between digital medical developers Imagineear and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and its charity, CW+.
The app’s content complements existing resources. It has been developed by members of the multidisciplinary neonatal team at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. It covers: Practical aspects of infant care including pain relief; Symptom relief; Comfort and dignity; The management of prognostic uncertainties; And the provision of support to families during their baby’s illness and after death. The app also provides a database of national contacts, and local contacts that can be tailored to the geographical location of individual hospital trusts or organisations.
The process encompassed rigorous stakeholder consultation, including organisations that provide support to partners and families in the target population.
The app is now available for download on the iTunes and Googleplay app stores.
