Friday 20 March 2026
Internal Reference Number: FOI_9232
Date Request Received: 17/02/2026 00:00:00
Date Request Replied To: 25/02/2026 00:00:00
This response was sent via: By Email
Request Summary: Family Integrated Care
Request Category: Researcher
| Question Number 1: I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the implementation and evaluation of Family Integrated Care (FICare) within your neonatal services. Please could you provide the following: Confirmation of whether Family Integrated Care (FICare) is currently implemented in your neonatal unit(s), and if so, the date of initial implementation. | |
| Answer To Question 1: Family Integrated Care (FICare) is currently implemented within the LNU (Local Neonatal Unit). Initial implementation is unknown as it has always been part of a wider commitment to family-centred Neonatal care on the LNU. | |
| Question Number 2: Copies of any internal policies, protocols, or guidance documents relating to FICare. | |
| Answer To Question 2: Salisbury LNU does not have a local FICare guideline, however, Salisbury LNU implements their FICare processes following the evidence provided in nationally recognised guidance such as the FICare Framework developed by BLISS and BAPM and the TV&W ODN Family care strategy; An overarching delivery plan ensuring that families are kept at its centre as primary care givers (2025-2028). The Network also provides us with access to a wide range of guidance documents to support aspects of FICare such as supporting parents to position their baby, importance of skin to skin or how to comfort your baby. They are all found on the Network website; TVW Guidelines - Neonatal Network South East. All parental leaflets/ guidance is also printed and laminated, which is stored in our family wellbeing and education folder for ease and regular use. | |
| Question Number 3: Details of any staff training programmes or materials used to support FICare delivery. | |
| Answer To Question 3: All new staff receive induction-level training on FICare principles and family-centred care within their preceptorship course if they have not already completed this. This also includes Communication skills to support parental involvement in care planning. Following the induction to FICare included in the preceptorship course, all staff have FICare updates on their yearly mandatory unit study day which relates to supporting parental participation in their babies care, the importance of neuroprotective care and how to support all babies on the unit with developmental care including positioning, comfort measures and up to date evidence base. In 2025, the unit also hosted two FICare specific study days where at least 70% of team managed to attend. This was delivering a range of updates and educational sessions around all elements of FICare. OTs, Physiotherapist, Psychologist and the Network Care Co-ordinators were all involved alongside the FICare team from Salisbury LNU. Staff are also updated yearly on the up-to-date written guidance and any e-learning resources available to provide the theory to practice link. Most of the written guidance is provided to us from BLISS and BAPM FICare Framework. | |
| Question Number 4: Details of any staff training programmes or materials used to support FICare delivery relating to older siblings. | |
| Answer To Question 4: There isn't any specific staff training programmes relating to older siblings, however, all staff are informed of the importance to facilitate sibling visits to the unit, and the unit is supportive in having siblings present on the unit to support FICare. Salisbury LNU provides age-appropriate resources such as toys, games, a space to play (playroom and garden) as well, delivering suitable emotional support where needed to encourage older siblings to feel welcomed on Salisbury LNU. The Network have launched an app called Nell and the Neonatal Unit which is an interactive app designed to support children who have a sibling in a neonatal unit, providing emotional and educational resources to help them cope with the experience. Salisbury LNU provides families the opportunity to access this app if appropriate, using the QR codes on display. The staff are aware of this sibling resource. | |
| Question Number 5: Any audit reports, evaluations, or outcome data relating to the effectiveness or impact of FICare on neonatal care or family experience. | |
| Answer To Question 5: All families that have spent time on the unit, would be offered to complete the parent survey at the end of their stay. This provides feedback on a lot of different aspects of their stay which allows us to audit and review parental experience, communication and the effectiveness of the processes we implement alongside auditing recent improvements we had made. The data is pulled monthly and delivered at Neonatal governance regularly. | |
| Question Number 6: If FICare is not currently implemented, please indicate whether there are plans or discussions underway to introduce it. | |
| Answer To Question 6: Not applicable | |
| Question Number 7: In addition (and if relevant), please could the Trust provide information on its policies or regulations regarding parental and sibling access to babies receiving neonatal care: Are both parents and siblings permitted to spend time with babies in neonatal care units? Are there any time restrictions or limitations on how long parents or siblings may spend with babies in neonatal care? Does the Trust have any policies to ensure that babies from multiple births (e.g. twins, triplets) receive equal parental contact time compared to singleton babies? | |
| Answer To Question 7: Are both parents and siblings permitted to spend time with babies in neonatal care units? Parents are encouraged to be present with their baby at all times and can visit at any time/any day. Sibling visiting is anytime too. Are there any time restrictions or limitations on how long parents or siblings may spend with babies in neonatal care? Parents and siblings are encouraged to be with their baby on the unit as long as they can/want. The parent accommodation we offer on Salisbury LNU allows parents to stay overnight to support with parents being present. The only restriction is that siblings are unable to stay overnight in the parent accommodation rooms on the unit. Does the Trust have any policies to ensure that babies from multiple births (e.g. twins, triplets) receive equal parental contact time compared to singleton babies? Salisbury LNU promotes equitable parental involvement for all babies receiving neonatal care. Care planning takes into account the needs of families with multiple births to support meaningful parental contact with each baby wherever possible alongside any other considerations we made need to implement and/or support. | |
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Our staff at Salisbury District Hospital have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of NHS Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.
