Neonatal units' visiting policies and parental experience of open-access
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Authors
Neske, Charlotte
Zorro, Carolina
Fragala, Valentina
Shetty, Sandeep
Serrano-Llop, Ana
De-Rooy, Laura
Crowley, Nicola
Bhat, Ravindra
Gandhi, Rashmi
Greenough, Anne
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2026
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OBJECTIVES: A survey of visiting policies in neonatal units in the UK and Ireland was conducted and parental experiences with open-access were examined across two neonatal units (one recently introduced it; another has had it in place for five years). METHODS: Units were contacted by email or telephone to complete the survey. Parents at two units prospectively completed a questionnaire. RESULTS: Eighty percent (169/212) of units participated in the survey. Among these, 88?% implemented complete open-access for parents, 7?% partial and 5?% restricted. 141/169 units (83.4?%) allowed parents during bedside ward rounds. Of these, 26 (18.4?%) required use of noise-cancelling headphones. Two persons per patient were allowed in 106 units (63?%), three in 44 (26?%) and four or more in 19 (11?%). Visitors must be accompanied by a parent. Siblings could visit at any time in 112 units (66?%), 48 during fixed hours (28?%) and 9 never allowed them (5?%); two units allowed siblings during summer months (1?%). In the two units, 87?% of 15 and 89?% of 20 parents were satisfied with the level of access. Concerns about confidentiality were expressed by 13?% and 20?% reported feeling a little worried about overhearing others' information or vice versa. Parents benefitted from open-access by feeling more welcome, less stressed and able to plan their visits more seamlessly. Open-access was perceived to improve the babies' quality of care through greater parental involvement and time spent together. CONCLUSIONS: Visiting policies varied between units; open-access was regarded as beneficial to parent and infant wellbeing.
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Journal of Perinatal Medicine