The revamped and extended neonatal unit in Limerick offers a new type of care to its tiny patients, some weighing as little as 600g at birth, according to one of the country’s leading neonatologists and paediatricians.<\/p>\n
Professor Roy Philip said the difference lies in how closely parents and staff partner to bring these delicate humans into their new life, in rooms painted with local flowers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a newer version of what we call a neonatal unit. It\u2019s not like parents are kept out. We want the parents to be with the baby as much as possible,\u201d the neonatologist and paediatrician at the UL Hospital Group said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople think that the equipment is the biggest thing in any neonatal unit, but what the mum is offering, I don\u2019t think any of us can offer.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Making it easier for mothers to breastfeed and have skin-to-skin time (when the baby rests on a parent\u2019s chest without barriers) is a key part of the plans.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can get the milk from mum on day one, that tiny baby will definitely show a better prognosis compared to those without,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This builds on how the unit has long worked with mothers.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the last 14 years, for every baby who weighs below 1,000g at birth \u2014 that is the tiniest of all babies \u2014 100% of them were exposed to human milk. Not 90% but 100%,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Prof Roy, as he is known, pointed out that mothers and staff achieved this despite concerns nationally about low breastfeeding rates.<\/p>\n
A lactation station offers advice to new mothers in a project short-listed at the Friends of Breastfeeding Awards this year.<\/p>\n
The two-storey extension and refurbished clinical space opened in June.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a baby is getting sick tonight, and we want the parents to be here, we can comfortably now offer them a place to stay overnight or a couple of days,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is so important during those stressful days to have continuous access.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The unit now also has more space in its intensive care unit, high dependency unit and purpose-built isolation areas.<\/p>\n
\n We developed a true family integrated care model. That means when you have a tiny baby born at 25 or 26 weeks, they usually stay with us for 2.5 to three months before they go home.\n <\/p>\n
Some are so small at birth that an adult could hold the baby in their hand. They can grow to about 2kg by the time they go home.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn one side, they are extremely vulnerable, but on the other, they are extremely resilient as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Care has improved significantly in his years as a neonatologist, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This is the best time to invest in them when they are very, very young and particularly ill as infants, he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had babies from 23 weeks, and to my recollection, 23 weeks and four days was our youngest in this unit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Across Irish neonatal units, technology and support systems have changed survival rates, with babies as young as 22 weeks surviving.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut at the same time, we have to be careful in saying that, that it doesn\u2019t mean every baby born at this gestation time is going to make it either,\u201d he cautioned.<\/p>\n
University Maternity Hospital Limerick sees about 4,000 births every year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Roy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/4916216_10_articleinline_Pic_202_20_2_.jpg\" "\\"Roy")
Roy Philip, adjunct professor of neonatology and consultant neonatologist and paediatrician at University of Limerick Hospitals and University of Limerick School of Medicine standing next to artwork of herbs traditionally used in healing painted on the walls of the new neonatal unit. Picture: HSE Midwest<\/p>\n
He estimated between 700 and almost 800 need neonatal care. This includes sick full-term babies as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I would say equipment-wise and facility-wise it is definitely state-of-the-art,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
“In the past, we used to get infection outbreaks because the babies were close to each other. So now we can really separate them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n