Neonatal jaundice affects around six in ten newborns and often requires several days of phototherapy treatment. Traditionally, this results in mothers and their babies returning to hospital shortly after birth.

Through the new service, babies who meet the clinical criteria can now receive phototherapy at home using a specialised sleeping bag-style garment that emits therapeutic light. Babies can be breastfed while wearing the device, enabling treatment to fit seamlessly around daily routines.

A neonatal senior nurse visits each family at home every day to check bilirubin levels, assess progress, and determine whether treatment should continue. Someone is then contactable via phone if the families have any questions.

The programme was designed and developed by the RHC Neonatal team following a highly successful three-month pilot in 2024. The team presented its positive results and has since helped embed this service as part of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's wider approach to virtual care.

By bringing hospital-level monitoring and treatment into the home, the service is already enhancing family experience, improving comfort and reducing the need for readmission.

NHSGGC Neonatal Hospital at Home senior charge nurse Sandra Lowis, who was part of this programme at pilot stage and imperative to driving the service forward, said: ‘We give the babies the care they need and we're there for the parents too. Bringing a new baby home can be overwhelming and so we're also there for emotional support and reassurance for parents who are using the equipment at home.'

Lowis is part of a new, dedicated team, comprising four neonatal Hospital at Home senior nurses, four consultants and a service improvement manager.

The service began work on 24 November 2025. Since then, 40 babies have received jaundice treatment at home, keeping families together and avoiding unnecessary hospital stays.

This service forms a key element of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's (NHSGGC) virtual hospital model and contributes to the board's Transforming Together programme, which focuses on delivering more care closer to home and reducing time spent in hospital where safe and appropriate.

NHSGGC community midwives will continue to screen for jaundice during routine home visits, ensuring eligible babies can be referred swiftly to the new service.