Parent accommodation, neonatal care leave and expenses

In the UK you and your partner may be able to get paid time off work if your newborn baby is premature or sick and needs neonatal care.

‘Neonatal care’ is the name given to care for newborn babies which starts in the first 28 days after birth. This may be for:

• hospital care
• medical care after leaving hospital - this must be under a consultant and include ongoing visits or checks arranged by the hospital where your baby was treated
• palliative or end of life care

You may be able to get:

• Neonatal Care Leave
• Statutory Neonatal Care Pay

You can get one week’s leave for every 7 full and continuous days your baby is in neonatal care, for up to 12 weeks.

You get Neonatal Care Pay and Leave in addition to other parental pay and leave entitlements. If you’re already on maternity leave or adoption leave, Neonatal Care Leave must be taken at the end of that entitlement.

There are rules about when you can take your leave and how to claim.

For more detailed information, you can visit the official GOV.UK page:

Neonatal Care Pay and Leave: Overview - GOV.UK

If you have any questions or need further help please ask the staff within the neonatal unit or contact the family support and information services on:

Information you can direct your employers to:

Statutory Neonatal Care Pay and Leave: employer guide: Overview - GOV.UK

Neonatal care leave and pay: employers' technical guide - GOV.UK

Within the unit, we have a number of facilities available for parents. After your baby is admitted, you will be shown around the various areas and facilities available to you. These include:

Expressing Room: A room specifically designed for mothers who are expressing their milk. With expressing equipment and fridges to store your milk.

Parents Kitchen: Available for all parents, with access to a microwave, fridge, plates and cutlery, with tea and coffee provided.

Parents Sitting Room: Sitting room at the end of our Rooming in Suite. Open to all parents.

Parents Room: Overnight facilities for parents when required to be close by.

Rooming in Suite: Overnight facilities for up to two parents/carers to stay with their baby. Single room with own toilet. Access to communal shower. Separate kitchen facilities also available, with access to a microwave, kettle, toaster and fridge.

Parents who live out with Greater Glasgow & Clyde can access local accommodation to ease the burden of travelling to and from the unit. Please speak to a member of staff if you would like more information.

Aroma: Serving hot drinks, sandwiches and snacks. Open Monday to Friday daytime.

Mabel’s Tearoom: Serving a variety of hot meals, sandwiches, rolls, soups, salads and hot and cold drinks. Open Monday to Friday daytime.

Canteen: Serving meals, snacks and drinks. 

Little Royal Cafe: Serving variety of hot meals, sandwiches, rolls, soups, salads and hot and cold drinks. Open Monday to Sunday daytime, found a short walk from the unit, on Castle Street.

Nearby: A short walk from the hospital you can find Dennistoun or Glasgow city centre, both with a huge selection of shops, cafes and restaurants.

N.B. Please ensure to keep all food and drink receipts that can be used to apply for expenses.

The Scottish Government Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) provides expenses for families who currently have a baby on a neonatal unit. More information can be found here. Paper copies of forms are also available in the neonatal unit - ask the ward clerkess.

You can find the answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the YPFF here.

For help with completing the required expenses forms please speak to the nurse in charge or the ward clerkess.

Please ensure you keep food, drink and travel receipts to allow us to sign off your expenses.