The consequences of the pandemic for babies and their families must not be overlooked, argues Tamsyn Crane
Since the first cases of the novel coronavirus were seen in Wuhan, China, in December 2019,1 the whole world has been reeling from the effects of this highly infectious new virus.
Healthcare services across the UK have been impacted in many significant ways: the cancellation of non-emergency services; the admission and treatment of thousands of patients with COVID-19, many of whom were incredibly sick and required intensive care; a massive increase in deaths, either directly or indirectly caused by coronavirus; significant changes in work practices regarding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing; substantial staff sickness and absence for isolation or shielding purposes; and the effect of the global pandemic on the mental health of the entire population, patients and staff included.
Every aspect of working within the NHS has changed immeasurably—the hospital environment in which neonatal units (NNUs) around the country are based is not the same place to work that it once was.