About neonatal medicine
If your child is born premature or is unwell at the beginning of their life, we can provide them with the best possible care, whether they require routine treatments or a complex procedure.
The Portland Hospital is renowned internationally for its paediatric and neonatal care, with a 93-bed unit that includes three cots in both our neonatal intensive care unit and our special care baby unit. It is equipped with the latest technology to monitor and care for both Portland-delivered babies, and babies with complex medical or post-surgical problems.
Our consultants comprise a team renowned for some of the world's most groundbreaking neonatal medicine. This includes the invention and development of many life-support systems for babies, and the treatment of brain injury in preterm and term newborn infants.
Babies can become very ill extremely fast and also recover very quickly, so we are always on the lookout for signs of infection
Consultant paediatrician and neonatologist

Laura's premature baby
It was like a slice of heaven and hell – a beautiful new baby but one who was desperately ill and having to fight for his life.
Laura and her husband Nick have no doubt that the staff at The Portland Hospital saved their tiny son Grey's life.
‘It was their attention to detail and caring attitude that means Grey is here with us today.’ Laura says.
Grey was born at 31 weeks after Laura started bleeding and having contractions. He was delivered by an emergency caesarean section, weighing 4lbs.
But later that day, he developed breathing problems and had to be put on a ventilator. Further investigations detected he also had heart problems, including a hole in his heart and valves that hadn’t closed.
Worse was to follow when Grey developed sepsis and started losing weight.
Doctors suspected he was developing necrotising enterocolitis, a disease that affects premature babies where parts of the bowel start to die.
Only one in five babies who have a confirmed diagnosis survive. Luckily, Grey’s infection was caught early enough to be treated with antibiotics and intravenous nutrition, avoiding surgery.
Grey spent eight weeks in hospital – five and a half of them in The Portland’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The Portland’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) both have the latest equipment to monitor and care for babies with complex medical needs or post-surgical problems.
Director of the unit Dr Simon Bignall says a team of six neonatologists are on a rota to give 24-hour care.
For Laura, the level of care Grey received is something she’ll never forget.
‘Grey is really thriving now – he’s feeding well and is such a chilled baby, taking everything in his stride. We’re thankful every day to have him home. He is a true miracle.’
Our neonatal consultants
Consultant
Specialties
Paediatric Care,Neonatal medicine
Works at
The Portland Hospital
Consultant
Specialties
General Paediatrics,Paediatric Care: General Paediatrics
Works at
The Harley Street Clinic
Chiswick Medical Centre
The Portland Hospital
Consultant
Specialties
Paediatric Care: General Paediatrics
Works at
The Harley Street Clinic
The Portland Hospital
Consultant
Specialties
Paediatric Care: General Paediatrics
Works at
The Harley Street Clinic
The Portland Hospital
Consultant
Specialties
Paediatric Care: General Paediatrics
Works at
The Portland Hospital
Chiswick Medical Centre
Our neonatal care location
We're able to provide level 3 paediatric and neonatal intensive care medicine at our main paediatric hospital.
Neonatal enquiries
Our neonatal unit is part of our paediatric service. If you have any questions relating to the unit, or would like to book an appointment with a paediatric consultant specialising in neonatal medicine, please contact us on.