Location
The Trevor Mann Baby Unit (TMBU) is part of the Royal Sussex County Hospital.
It is located on the 14th floor of the Thomas Kemp Tower Block, accessed from Eastern Road, Brighton, BN1 5BE.
View a map of the hospital site, showing the location of the Thomas Kemp Tower
Visiting information
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.
Please note: visiting times for anyone who is not a parent of a baby on TMBU are: 1pm – 3pm and 5pm – 7.30pm”
Your baby’s brothers and sisters are welcome to visit, but please do not bring any other children under the age of 16 years as they will not be allowed onto the unit. We do not encourage visitors after 8pm in order to allow your baby to rest and grow.
Anyone who is unwell should not visit as the babies are extremely vulnerable to infection.
Information regarding your baby will not be given to relatives over the telephone.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 small restaurant near the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital. Please ask unit staff about opening times and directions.
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.
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.