Visiting the Brighton site

By bus

Bus services 1, 1A, 7, N7 14B, 14C, 23, 27C, 37, 37B, 47, 52, 57, 71, 73, 94A, 271 and 272 stop at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

You can view bus times online or call Brighton and Hove Bus Company on 01273 886 200.

The 271 and 272 bus services run between the Princess Royal Hospital and Royal Sussex County Hospital. These services are free to patients carrying an appointment letter for the date of travel.

By train

Brighton Station is the nearest station. From the station, you can catch a bus or get a taxi to the hospital. Bus route 7 runs to the hospital from stop B at the front of the station up to every 6 minutes.

By car

Parking around the unit is very difficult so it may be easier to come by public transport or be dropped off by a relative or friend.

Onsite pay-on-foot car parking is available but it is over-subscribed and long waits are common. The multi-storey car park is situated on the North Access Road which is accessed from Bristol Gate, third entry on the left (immediately after the A&E entrance).

There is limited short-term on-street pay-and-display parking in the vicinity of the hospital.

By taxi

There is a taxi rank opposite the main entrance of the hospital.

You can visit your baby whenever you wish. However, at certain times you may be asked to wait outside the nursery. We may ask some or all visitors to leave when we have to perform any emergency procedures, or if the number of visitors makes it difficult for the staff to attend to your baby’s needs. The unit can feel very warm, so it is advisable to wear light clothing or layers.

It is important to remember that very sick or premature babies are at increased risk of infection.  Limiting the number of visitors and how much your baby is handled by other people helps to reduce this risk.  Please see our guidance at the top of this page in light of  Coronavirus (COVI-19).

Information regarding your baby will not be given to relatives over the telephone.

To ensure confidentiality, you must accompany any other visitor; they cannot come without you, nor will we give them any information about your baby.

We would ask you not to look at, approach, or ask questions about other babies on the unit to respect their privacy. In the same way, we will ensure that other visitors/strangers are not given information about your baby when they ask.

As with ward rounds, we urge you to appreciate and respect the need for confidentiality and privacy of each family during your stay on the unit.

In order for your baby to rest and grow there is a quiet time each day on the unit. During this time your baby is allowed to rest without any invasive procedures or investigations being carried out.

However, emergency care or procedures will continue to be carried out during this time.

Quiet time is daily from 3pm-5pm. Only parents are allowed to visit at this time.

Please ring the bell on the video entry phone outside the unit and wait for staff to answer.  The staff may be tending to a baby’s needs so this may not be immediate. Please clearly state who you are and who you have come to visit so that we can let you in.  For security, it is vital that you do not allow anyone who is not with you to follow you into the unit.

Please see information at the top of this page on Coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as the guidance below…

Please hang up coats on the hooks provided outside the nurseries.

As you know, hand washing is very important to reduce the spread of infections in small vulnerable babies. We ask all visitors to wash their hands with soap and water when entering and leaving the nursery.

We also ask you to remove all jewellery including watches, bracelets, bangles and rings (except your wedding ring) and to keep your valuables with you.

To further avoid the risk of infection, you should roll up your sleeves to the elbows before washing your hands and we advise you to avoid long, painted or false nails as this also risks infection.

You will find alcohol gel at the side of each cot and we ask you to apply this after hand washing and every time you go to your baby.

Due to limited space and the risk of infection, it is sensible to keep the amount of belongings to a minimum at your baby’s cotside.

Toys and gifts

Due to the risk of infection, toys are not permitted within incubators or around the bedspace of babies who are nursed in incubators.  Once your baby is nursed in an unheated cot, you may bring in one small machine washable toy if you wish.

Celebratory balloons, flowers and banners are not permitted on the neonatal unit.  Mobiles should not routinely be used as they can obstruct staff who may need to treat babies in an emergency.  Occasionally, a mobile may be recommended by a play therapist or physiotherapist for older babies.

Camera

Please feel free to take photographs, or to video your baby, as much as you want to. It is very important you capture the early days of your baby’s life, and babies are not disturbed by the flash. We will give you a couple of digital photographs soon after your baby’s admission to the unit.

Notebook or diary

Some parents find it helpful to keep a written record of the events, milestones and feelings that you experience during your baby’s hospital stay.

Clothes

We have a large selection of baby clothes, so you do not have to provide these. If you wish to bring your own clothes, please make sure that you label them clearly with your baby’s name. We will provide a laundry bag at the end of the incubator/cot for your baby’s dirty clothes so you can take them home to wash.  Clothes and bedding should be washed at 65 degrees during their stay on the neonatal unit.

Nappies

We provide nappies, cotton wool and cotton buds for the first few days of your baby’s stay. We would ask you to supply these after this time. Your nurse will advise you on which size to buy.

As far as possible we try to accommodate parents either on the unit or in the nearby Ronald McDonald House in Brighton. This accommodation is free but is limited so priority is given to parents with the greatest need.

On the unit we have two comfortably furnished bedrooms for parents to use.  These are used when babies are establishing feeding or prior to discharge (rooming in). These rooms allow you to care for your baby’s needs with support from the neonatal staff. The parent area also includes a kitchen with a kettle, fridge and microwave which parents are welcome to use.  There is a small seating area and a toilet for visitors to the unit.

The Ronald McDonald House in Brighton is in Abbey Road just opposite the main entrance to the hospital. The house has eight en-suite bedrooms, a lounge, dining area, kitchen, laundry and small patio garden.

Are there refreshments available for parents?

There is a kitchen in the parents’ sitting area for you to use, equipped with a microwave, kettle and toaster. You will find limited supplies of tea, coffee, milk, bread and butter. We ask you not to take hot drinks or food on to the unit to ensure a clean and hygienic environment and to prevent accidents.

There is a WRVS snack bar in the A&E Department, Level 5 of the Tower Block and a small restaurant near the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital. Please ask unit staff about opening times and directions.

There is a kitchen in the parents’ sitting area for you to use, equipped with a microwave, kettle and toaster. You will find limited supplies of tea, coffee, milk, bread and butter. We ask you not to take hot drinks or food on to the unit to ensure a clean and hygienic environment and to prevent accidents.

There is a small restaurant near the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital. Please ask unit staff about opening times and directions.

The Trust operates a no smoking policy. This applies to all patients, visitors and staff. Please respect this policy.

Spiritual needs and support

The hospital has a team of chaplains who are available at any time to provide spiritual support to anyone, irrespective of their denomination or faith. If you would like the support of your own minister or religious representative, please let us know and we can endeavour to contact them.

Baptism and/or blessing

You may wish to have your baby baptised and blessed or have another religious ceremony, while your baby is with us on the neonatal unit. If you would like us to arrange this, please speak to the nurse looking after your baby.

Social needs

If you have a problem that you would like to discuss with a social worker, please ask the nurse looking after your baby to arrange this.

Visiting a baby in hospital can be expensive.

Reduced cost hospital parking permits for one week or one month are available.  Please ask a nurse and they can provide you with the necessary documentation required to obtain one of these permits.