Why does my baby need intensive neonatal care?

Most newborns admitted to our unit are premature, which means they are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. They tend to have a low birth weight or have a medical condition that requires intensive care. However, babies may also need to be looked after by us if they have a life-threatening birth defect, surgical or genetic condition.

What are the visiting hours?

At The Portland Hospital, we have open visiting. However, we recommend that visitors leave by 10pm. If your child's staying overnight, this gives both parents and child the chance to settle for the night. Should you wish to stay overnight with your child, that's no problem. We can provide you with a bed for one parent.

Neonatal Unit

Q: What is a NICU?

A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit provides specialist care for newborns who are born prematurely, have a low birth weight, or need medical support after birth. Our unit offers round-the-clock monitoring, advanced treatment, and a calm, closely supervised environment to give your baby the best possible start.

205 - 209 Great Portland Street
London
W1W 5AH

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Welcome to the HCA UK Neonatal Unit

Fast access to critical care

If your baby needs additional support after birth, our Neonatal Unit provides expert care in a safe, closely monitored environment.

Our team of neonatal consultants, specialist nurses and therapists are on hand round-the-clock to deliver advanced treatment tailored to your baby’s needs, from breathing support to management of serious infections.

But we’re not just here for your baby, we’re here for you too, with clear guidance, answers and reassurance every step of the way.

What level of neonatal care do you offer at The Portland Hospital?

As you may know, there are different types of neonatal unit which offer very specific levels of specialist care for your newborn child. Our highly experienced and skilled teams at The Portland Hospital provide Level 2 neonatal care.

This might include:

Short-term intensive care, usually up to 48 hours
Short-term ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or high flow therapy, for breathing support
Care during periods where a baby’s breathing pauses briefly, called ‘apnoea’
Feeding through a drip in a baby’s vein, called parenteral nutrition
Cooling treatment for babies who’ve had difficult births or are unwell soon after birth, looking after them before they’re transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
Helping babies who become unwell soon after birth

However, our skilled teams are also able to look after newborns with the highest need for support should a baby be born unexpectedly born before 28 weeks’ gestation or who are very unwell after birth.

These are elements classed as Level 3 care, however we don’t provide the full Level 3 neonatal care that a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) does.

Bliss.org offers an excellent full explanation of different levels of neonatal care and how they can benefit your newborn baby. You can read it in full here

What happens if my baby needs to transfer out of your care to a NICU?

If your baby needs the full range of Level 3 specialist care that’s provided by a NICU centre of excellence in another hospital, our skilled teams will be here at every stage to help make that transfer as safe and smooth as possible.

It’s very rare that we’re not able to care for all the needs of a newborn at The Portland Hospital and most babies are looked after with us until they’re ready to go home. However, a baby’s care needs may increase during their time with us and if that’s the case, we’ll do whatever it takes to successfully make that transfer.

Where is the unit based?

Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is at The Portland Hospital, London. If you’re having your baby with us, getting your newborn urgent and specialist care, should they need it, will be quick and seamless.

What kind of care does the unit offer?

This state-of-the-art facility is equipped to monitor and care for babies with complex needs born after 28 weeks’ gestation who can be transferred to our level 2 high dependency unit.

How do I know my baby will be in safe hands?

Your newborn’s safety is our first priority – always, and the expertise of our teams reflects this.

Many of our consultant neonatologists are pioneers in this field and include those responsible for the invention of life-support systems for babies, and the development of brain injury treatment for pre-term and term newborn infants. In addition, several of our specialists hold prominent positions at London's top teaching hospitals.

All of them are supported by an exceptional team of highly trained neonatal nurses alongside other skilled professionals, including lactation experts and specialist therapists.

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Specialist treatment for complex conditions

Our complete breadth of expertise, focused on your child

Personalised care for your newborn

Our experienced neonatologists and specialist nurses work together as part of a wider team to respond quickly to your baby’s needs, whether that’s help with breathing, feeding or recovery from surgery.

Together, they’ll deliver personalised care in a calm, closely monitored environment designed to give your baby the best possible start.

Our expert neonatal team includes:

Neonatal surgeons
Neonatologists
Neonatal nurses
Respiratory care specialists
Physical and occupational therapists
Lactation consultants

Fast, accurate diagnostics

In neonatal care, every detail matters. That’s why we use a wide range of advanced diagnostic tools to monitor your baby’s condition, guide treatment, and respond quickly to any changes.

These investigations help us make informed decisions and provide the most appropriate, targeted care at every stage.

Diagnostics available include:

Blood tests
CT scans (including low-dose CT scans)
ECG (electrocardiogram)
EEG (electroencephalogram) for assessing brain activity
Genetic and metabolic testing
Microbiological testing to detect infections
X-ray
MRI scans
Ultrasound

How to find us

The Neonatal Unit is located at The Portland Hospital, London, close to Regent’s Park and Great Portland Street.

We’re easily accessible by public transport, with nearby Underground stations including Great Portland Street, Regent’s Park, and Oxford Circus.

There are national and private car parks nearby.

Find directions here.

Neonatal Unit FAQs

What is a neonatal unit?

A neonatal unit provides specialist care for newborns who are born prematurely, have a low birth weight, or need medical support after birth. Our unit offers round-the-clock monitoring, advanced treatment, and a calm, closely supervised environment to give your baby the best possible start.

Why does my baby need neonatal care?

Most newborns admitted to our unit are premature, which means they are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. They tend to have a low birth weight or have a medical condition that requires a high level of care.

However, babies may also need to be looked after by us if they have a life-threatening birth defect, surgical or genetic condition.

Who’ll be looking after my baby?

Your baby will be cared for by a dedicated team of neonatal consultants, nurses, and health professionals from across our network, including respiratory therapists, dietitians and physiotherapists. All of them have vast experienced in caring for newborns with complex needs.

Will I be kept informed about my baby’s progress?

Absolutely. We’ll keep you updated regularly and make sure you’re completely comfortable with your baby’s treatment plan. We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have.

Can I stay with my baby in the neonatal unit?

Yes. We encourage parents to be with their babies as much as possible. We believe in family-centred care, and we’ll support you to stay close, bond with your baby, and be actively involved in their care.

What happens when my baby no longer needs neonatal support?

As your baby grows and needs less medical support, they can be moved to our special care baby unit. For the sake of continuity and the best clinical outcomes, the same neonatal nurses will care for your baby across both locations.

Is there parking at The Portland Hospital?

Pick-up and drop-off options: Visitors can pick up and drop off patients at the main entrance. No parking is allowed as the driveway is for emergency vehicle access.

Local parking: There’s no on-site parking and street parking isn’t permitted on a single yellow line between Monday and Saturday, from 8.30am to 6.30pm. However, national and private car parks are available nearby. Please contact the admissions team if you need help to find a local car park near to the hospital.

Disabled parking: Westminster Council operates a small number of disabled parking bays near the hospital, available to Blue Badge holders for up to four hours. The nearest one is on the corner of Bolsover Street, next to Tesco Express.

Should you wish to stay overnight with your child, that’s no problem. We can provide you with a bed for one parent.

Will I be able to stay when my child goes to theatre?

Yes you can. You’re very welcome to go to the anaesthetic room, where you can stay until your child’s asleep. At that point, the nurse will accompany you back to your room.