New clinical pathway for newborns to support families to leave hospital sooner

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is introducing an innovative approach to neonatal care, enabling some newborn babies to return home sooner, with Teddy among the first to be discharged with neonatal oral antibiotics at home (NOAH).

The NOAH pathway supports maternity and neonatal teams to safely manage infections in eligible newborns by transitioning from intravenous (IV) antibiotics in hospital to oral antibiotics administered at home.

This means that, when clinically appropriate, families can leave hospital earlier and continue their baby’s treatment in the comfort of their own home.

Natalie Emery, Senior Nurse in Neonatal Transitional Care at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Providing families with oral antibiotics to take home has so many benefits, and research from other organisations is helping us to ensure we can support eligible families to get home more quickly.

Being able to take your baby home means improved bonding and breastfeeding, a reduced hospital stay and empowers parents to be supported to manage their baby’s health.”

The programme has been developed to ensure that only babies who meet strict clinical criteria are discharged under this pathway. Families remain fully supported, with ongoing guidance from the neonatal medical team throughout their journey.

This initiative reflects the Trust’s commitment to improving patient experience and delivering family-centred care, helping babies and their families spend more time together at home while continuing to receive high-quality clinical support.