A Glasgow hospital has launched a pilot service to treat newborns with jaundice in the comfort of their homes.

The initiative by neonatal nurses and medical staff at the Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow (RHC) neonatal unit is expected to free up at least 30 maternal bed days per month at the adjacent Queen Elizabeth University Hospital maternity unit.

Neonatal jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, affects six in 10 newborns and requires a hospital stay of up to five days.

The new service enables babies to receive phototherapy treatment at home in their normal surroundings.

(Image: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)

Parents place their baby into a small sleeping-bag-like garment which delivers the phototherapy, and the treatment does not interfere with breastfeeding.

Daily home visits are made by a member of the neonatal nursing care at-home team to monitor the baby's progress.

Community midwives from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, too, monitor for jaundice during routine home visits.

Scott Stevenson, whose daughter Ava received at-home treatment, said: “We were aware of Ava’s jaundice when she was in hospital, and she was receiving phototherapy there.

“Her bilirubin levels improved, and we were able to go home. The nurses advised that a midwife would visit the house, would check this again for us and that there was a chance we would need to return.

“When the midwife arrived at the house next day, the blood test showed that Ava needed phototherapy once again. The midwife then offered to bring the suit to us.

“I worried that it would be a lot of equipment at first, but it wasn’t, and it was so easy. It was great.

“We’re a 30-minute drive from the hospital, and we have our five-year-old son at home so it meant we could all stay together, and Danielle could be comfortable.”

Under the pilot, if the baby is otherwise well but has jaundice and requires treatment with phototherapy, the family will be offered this care at home.

Lynsey Hill, staff nurse at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Babies can develop jaundice symptoms 72 hours after birth.

“If we have already discharged a mum and her baby following labour, they would traditionally need to return for a hospital stay to receive phototherapy.

“This can be really upsetting for mums who have been settling into life with their baby at home.

“We are focused on delivering person-centred care and this is a pilot that we’ve been hoping to implement for a while.

“It is very satisfying to see it live, and to hear the positive feedback from parents.

“Our hope is for more women, who give birth at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, will be aware of the service and understand that their baby could be eligible.”