Research and Quality Improvement in our Neonatal Unit (RAH)

In our unit we always have several research projects taking place and we aim for as many families as possible to be given the opportunity to take part. Research is an informed choice and whilst your baby is in hospital, you may be approached by a member of the research team.

Research helps us gain new knowledge, improve our current practice and it is an important tool for improving and ensuring the quality of care that we provide. By choosing to take part in research, you could help us with this.

If you have any questions or wishing to know more about the studies in NICU, please ask to speak to one of the Midwives or Doctors in the research team by calling 0141 232 7600 or email ggc.obstetric.gcrf@nhs.scot

Current active trials:

• SURFSUP

We are actively involved in Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives. This allows us to assess and improve the care we provide to our babies, striving for better care and promoting patient safety. Some of our QI work has won awards or received recognition by the various neonatal organisations.

We report our neonatal outcomes to theNational Neonatal Audit Programme, comparing our outcomes to other units with similar patient mix. We review this report regularly to address any areas where we could perform better.

We also work closely with the The Scottish Patient Safety Programme Perinatal Programme (SPSP Perinatal). This allows us to work in partnership with our colleagues in Maternity to optimise care and outcomes for pregnant women and their babies. Through MCQIC, we have various care bundles in the neonatal unit which are evidence based to encourage best practice.

Furthermore, in addition to these national projects, we run lots of local QI projects to continuously assess and improve the care we provide.

Current QI initiatives/projects

• INVENTS:Reducing unplanned extubation in ventilated babies
• Let it Flow:Helping mums to express breast milk early
• B434:Collaborative evidence based approach to managing babies born earlier than 34 weeks of pregnancy
• Perinatal wellbeing package:Collaborative evidence based approach to managing babies born earlier than 34 weeks of pregnancy
• The Warm Bundle:Helping keep babies warm and reduce neonatal unit admission
• BPD reduction package:Evidence based approach to management of early breathing issues in babies born earlier than 32 weeks of pregnancy

The National Neonatal Audit Programme (NNAP) helps neonatal units to improve the care they provide to babies who need specialist treatment. This includes infants who are born too early, with a low birth weight or who have medical conditions requiring specialist treatment. We use information about your baby’s care to help neonatal units in England, Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man to improve the care and outcomes for other babies.

You can get information on how your baby's information is used on this page from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

'Your baby's care', the parent and carer guide to the NNAP summary report on the 2022 data is available here.