We care for FICare as North Wales hosts landmark collaborative conference
06.03.2026
Our Health Board has hosted the first ever conference fostering closer working between health care staff and the parents of babies needing neonatal care.
The approach supports families to be confident, informed and fully involved in their baby’s care. FICare has also improved clinical outcomes, helped strengthen parents' bonds with their children and better prepared families when it is time to go home.
The conference reflected a growing national push to embed FICare as a core part of neonatal services across Wales. Parent voices were central to the day.
Abby Pugh, neonatal parent representative and peer supporter, shared her family’s experience of neonatal care across two hospitals and reflected on the impact of meaningful partnership.
She said: “When your baby is in neonatal care, you can feel powerless very quickly. Family Integrated Care changes that. It gives parents knowledge, confidence and a voice. It means we don’t feel like visitors, we feel like parents. Seeing Wales host its first FICare conference gives me real hope for families who will walk this path in the future.”
The first of its kind in Wales, the conference took place on Wednesday March 4, at the Welsh Government Buildings in Llandudno Junction. More than 85 delegates attended to hear a range of
Sessions covered speeding up the use of FI Care, how to communicate in neonatal settings and the role of language in maternity and caring for new born babies. They also covered innovations such as “Cool Cuddles” and psychology's role in supporting families in neonatal care.
The event also included the launch of the new QIS (Quality in Specialty) Standards by Karen Jewell, Welsh Government’s Chief Midwifery Officer.
The original idea for FICare was developed during a study at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Canada, between 2013-2015. From that study the movement has taken hold across Canada, the United States of America and the UK. BCUHB was an enthusiastic early adopter of the model of care In Wales.
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In our sub-regional NICU at Glan Clwyd Hospital, parent-led ward rounds are embedded and videos of them used to teach health professionals how to improve interactions between parents and staff.
Glan Clwyd Hospital neonatal consultant, Dr Oliver Rackham, gave a fascinating talk on the benefits of parent-led ward rounds during the conference. You can read his piece for the Infant Journal here: Focus on a unit
All told it was a feather in the cap of our neonatal healthcare team to host the first ever conference of its kind in Wales. Organiser and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd FiCare lead nurse, Angela Hannah was delighted with how it turned out.
She said: “The event marks an important step in advancing family-centred neonatal care in Wales and reinforces BCUHB’s commitment to partnership, innovation and compassionate practice”.
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