BabyLink – increased involvement with decision making through improved communication with families of babies in a neonatal unit

Andrew Lyon; Ben Stenson; Yvonne Freer; Clare Coyle;
Neonatal unit, Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

This study was completed in 2005

Background

Good communication with the families of children in hospital has become increasingly important.

Parents want to know all aspects of their child’s illness and care and be involved in decision making with clinical staff.

Defining the boundaries between what we can accept as ‘normal’ clinical care and that which requires discussion with, and consent from parents, is becoming more difficult.

Parents naturally want to be aware of everything happening to their child but prolonged discussions around every small aspect of care is impossible in a busy clinical service.

At the same time, just giving the parents clinical facts without putting them into context can cause alarm, distress and misunderstanding. Improving communication with parents is an important part of the development of neonatal care.