Towards the humanisation of childcare

With the turn of the century, humanisation, through patient- and family-centred care, began to take its first steps. When a premature baby was admitted to the Neonatology Department, they received the best care the professionals could provide. However, what no healthcare professional could offer was the love of the baby’s parents, who, at that time, had to be content with seeing their child through a pane of glass. This was what needed to change.
 
In the 1990s, Josep, a newborn with a very complex heart condition, was admitted to the Neonatology Department, where Dr Félix Castillo, now Head of the Department, was then a young junior doctor. At that time, the model of neonatal care was very different to what it is today. Mothers were allowed in for half an hour, and for the rest of the time, they had to see their baby from outside. Everything felt very cold, and parents suffered greatly. For this reason, against the practice of the time, Dr Castillo decided to allow Josep’s mother to go in during his shifts. He also allowed the grandmother to enter, as she struggled to believe the baby would survive and was experiencing the situation with a great deal of emotional distance, which only added to the mother’s suffering. The grandmother and the mother went in together. When they came out, everything had changed. Sadly, Josep died after nine months, but for the professionals who cared for him, it was a comfort to think that during that time he had at least been able to feel his mother’s touch.
 
The approach to the care of children and their families has changed greatly to humanise it. In 2016, the Siblings Project was launched, followed by other initiatives aimed at improving the experience of patients and their families at the hospital.
 
The Neonatology Department now has:

• A pioneering initiative in Spain, the Siblings Project aims to humanise the neonatal ICU by offering workshops for the siblings of newborn babies. When a newborn brother or sister needs to be admitted to the ICU, the concerns of young children and their families are explored through play.
• The “Almost Like Home” Family Space encourages parents to become involved in care, promotes the kangaroo method and breastfeeding, all of which have proven beneficial for newborn development and progress, and helps to shorten hospital stays.
• The Space to Talk Programme is aimed at parents who have lost their baby during pregnancy or in the first days after birth.

Meanwhile, the Paediatric ICU offers:

• The Sol Solet Programme, which allows children to go outside the ICU and be taken for walks once they are stable. The healthcare team always accompanies families and their children or adolescents during outings.
• The Siblings Project, which, following the same approach as in the Neonatology Department, enables the siblings of children with extended hospital stays to visit them after a period of preparatory work. 

Creation of the Humanisation Committee
 
In 2019, the Humanisation Committee of Vall d’Hebron University Hospital was established in an ongoing effort to humanise patient care. It is composed of members from different professional backgrounds representing all departments. The mission of the Committee is to develop, implement and evaluate the Humanisation Plan. The aim is to create a more welcoming hospital that works every day to enhance the patient experience during their stay and ensure person-centred care that embraces both the patient and their environment, with the active participation of patients, families, professionals and the wider community.