Maternity unit virtual tours launched in Sussex

New mother Sarah and neonatal sister Sam Walters navigate a 3D tour of a Sussex hospital neonatal unit.

Virtual tours of neonatal units across four hospital sites in Sussex are now available online.

University Hospital Sussex has neonatal services at St Richard’s in Chichester, Worthing and Princess Royal hospital in Haywards Heath, and a level three neonatal intensive care unit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

The virtual tours show the layout of the wards and highlight medical equipment which users can click on to find out more information.

Neonatal senior sister Sam Walters said: "We hope being able to visualise the units prior to visiting in person provides some reassurance to families and reduces uncertainty.”

The Trevor Mann Baby Unit Unit (TMBU) in Brighton is a level three neonatal intensive care unit which has twenty-seven cots over three nurseries for special care, high dependency, and intensive care.

The unit also cares for babies who need surgery.

The TMBU sees referrals from across Sussex, Surrey and Kent, making it the only specialist neonatal unit to provide level three care for babies in this region.

The Trevor Mann baby unit in Brighton

Ms Walters added: “It can be a really anxious time for parents whose babies may need specialist care on our neonatal unit, however with these tours now available for people, we hope being able to visualise the unit prior to visiting in person provides some reassurance to families and reduces uncertainty.”

New mum Sarah, who is at the TMBU with baby Ellie, said: “The 3D maps are great for helping you navigate."

The tours at the different hospital’s sites on the trust website.