The short-term home Nasogastric Tube Feeding (NGT) Service was setup in May 2024, by the Neonatal Outreach team, to aid early discharge for neonates and their families.
The service was introduced as evidence suggest that establishing oral feeds is usually the last step in the neonatal journey (especially for the very pre-term infant) seen to delay a timely discharge home. This has enabled our team to facilitate nasogastric feeding at home, supporting family integrated care, reducing stress and cost pressures for the family and the unit, in turn providing long-term positive outcomes for the neonate and the whole family.
Since the introduction of this service, we have successfully supported 5 families in caring for their baby in their home environment, with our daily support and guidance where needed. No baby has had to be re-admitted while benefiting from this service.
Feedback from these families has been extremely positive and has provided our team with confirmation as to how beneficial this service is. We are excited to support many more families under this service.
One mother said: "My baby boy was born at 32 weeks weighing 5lb2. He was put on a feeding tube on which he remained whilst trying to get him to take to a bottle.
He was born at St Thomas' Hospital where he spent just under two weeks and transferred to Darent Valley Hospital where he spent a further 11 days to help with his feeding. Whilst we were at Darent Valley Hospital, I was trained to deal with his feeding tube so then under the care of the Outreach team, he could go home.
My son was home for 3 days before pulling his tube out but by this time, he was taking his full feeds through the bottle which was amazing as handling him with the tube in was tricky. Without the Outreach team putting this in place, we wouldn’t have been able to bring our baby home and be able to be a family with our oldest child.
We can’t thank the Outreach team enough for giving us all the support with bringing him home. We are so happy it was successful and didn’t have to get readmitted into hospital as he was gaining weight. I would like to thank the Outreach team from the bottom my heart for all the help and support they gave us"
Another family said: "Our family received invaluable ongoing support; without the Outreach team's assistance with NGT feeding at home, our baby would still remain in the NICU. The neonatal nurses at DVH, particularly Nurse Dawn and her team, provided us with exceptional care and support. Their outreach services were instrumental in enabling our timely discharge home and the establishment of a consistent routine.
The team's training in NGT feeding, a life-saving skill, and their consistent support throughout the week and weekend significantly eased our anxieties.
The Neonatal Outreach team are so valued and their service allowed us to enjoy Christmas and New Year at home. They are an excellent service and one I would love to see grow.
Having a baby in NICU is stressful and worrying but the Neonatal Outreach team have been our rock in the care and support we have received. The Neonatal Outreach Team should be very proud of the services they provide, not only for our baby but also us as parents and carers. It's a wonderful service."
Well done to the Neonatal Outreach team for their invaluable support offered to the families under their care.