A new community coffee morning for Stoke-on-Trent families who experienced a stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has been launched University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust's (UHNM).

The Neonatal Families' Coffee Mornings are open to families whose babies have received neonatal care in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent within the last three years.

The sessions are delivered by UHNM's Neonatal Community Outreach Team (NCOT) in partnership with the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) are open to families whose babies have received neonatal care in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent within the last three years.

UHNM hopes that the sessions will provide ongoing support, connection and reassurance for families following discharge from neonatal care.

Sarah Roberts, NCOT senior sister, said: "The period following discharge from neonatal care can be challenging for many families, with some parents feeling overwhelmed with limited access to ongoing support.

"These sessions are designed to reduce isolation, encourage peer support and provide families with an opportunity to share their experiences helping to inform and improve neonatal care and services.

"The coffee mornings provide a relaxed and welcoming environment where parents and carers can connect with others who understand the neonatal journey.

"Families are encouraged to attend with their babies and siblings, including babies with ongoing clinical needs such as oxygen therapy or feeding tubes."

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The coffee mornings take place twice a month at The Bridge Centre, Birches Head Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 8DD.

The venue offers free parking, disabled access and is pushchair friendly.

Upcoming sessions:

• Monday 9 February, 10am–12pm
• Monday 23 February, 10am–12pm

For more information, visit the website here.