Hospital pilots scheme to read to premature babies

A city hospital has been chosen to pilot a reading scheme aimed at premature babies.

The Snuggle and Read scheme at Peterborough City Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), will support "support staff and family education about the value of reading to babies", ward manager Katie Barke said.

The unit, run by North West Anglia Foundation Trust (NWAFT), has been selected from 17 across the region by the East of England Neonatal Network to showcase the new Quality Improvement Project, and encourage reading from a young age.

A library created with support from the National Literacy Trust has been updated for the pilot with an "overwhelming" donation of books.

The NICU at Peterborough hospital is a 20-bed unit caring for babies born from 27 weeks' gestation.

Spearheading the introduction of Snuggle & Read are Helen Taylor, specialist neonatal counsellor, and Lucy Robertshaw, a neonatal occupational therapist – supported by the entire NICU team.

Ms Taylor said: "The donation of new books so far has been overwhelming, and parents will receive a library card and a record of the books they have read to their baby.

"However, if they prefer not to read a children's book, they can of course bring in their own book and read that – it is their voice, the feeling of being relaxed and close to their baby that is important."

Ms Robertshaw said: "Our need to communicate and experience our world is innate from the beginning; hearing, seeing and feeling our parents/carers solidifies early connections.

"Hence the title of our project 'Snuggle & Read', where we would like to not only encourage the reading but skin-to skin cuddles whilst reading for the overall sensory and physiological stability benefits of this co-occupation".

Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon also has a collection or books and a library service in use at its own Special Care Baby Unit.

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