Preventing infection for all babies

Our nursery cares for babies who are very vulnerable to infection. For that reason, anyone planning to visit your baby, including you, must feel well and have no symptoms of illness. If you have a runny or blocked nose, elevated temperature, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, “flu-like” symptoms, infected skin sores (such as school sores), foot and mouth disease etc, please do NOT visit.

• The nurse or doctor caring for your baby may ask you to go home if you visit and have any of these symptoms. These restrictions are in place to protect your baby. A simple cold in an adult can make a premature baby seriously ill. The nurse caring for your baby will talk to you about the amount of time you need to remain at home while unwell.
• COVID, influenza and other viruses remain active in our community. The current recommendations are that you should isolate for 5 days or until you have been symptom free for 48 hours (about 2 days), whichever is the longest. If you have tested positive to COVID, please chat to the nurse caring for your baby. We understand how distressing it is to not be able to visit your baby and by talking to your nurse, we can arrange alternative ways for you to remain connected and up to date.
• Visitors with active cold sores should not visit your baby. If you are a parent with an active cold sore, you are still welcome to visit your baby, however, you will need to wear a mask until the sore is completely dry and healed. Do not kiss your baby if you have an active cold sore.
• “Clean hands save lives” Every time you enter the nursery, wash your hands right up to your elbows for at least 30 seconds. You also need to wash or gel your hands before you touch your baby, even if you have done the initial hand wash. Hand gel or foam is available at every cot, and we encourage you to use that before you touch your baby.
• Please take off all jewelry and watches (except a plain wedding band) and roll up long sleeves. Acrylic/gel nails and nail polish are also not permitted. If you have these on at the time of your baby’s admission, you will need to wear gloves until you can have the nails removed. Research has shown that jewelry, watches and acrylic/gel nails and nail polish can be the source of infection.