New playgroup launched to help Sunderland babies - and their families - leaving neonatal care

New play sessions have been set up to give babies leaving neonatal care a place to help them thrive.

The sessions will be led by children's community nurses and nursery nurses, providing sensory toys and play resources, as well as offering expert advice and a chance for parents to support each other.

The sessions have been set up by the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Sunderland Royal Hospital and South Tyneside District Hospital.

The 'Little Treasures' group will serve the Sunderland area, while NICU Stars as been set up in South Tyneside.

Ann Long is the clinical team manager for Children’s Community Nursing at the Trust.

She said the groups are aimed at babies aged two and under and are free to join.

"These sessions have our nursery nurses on hand and lots of resources to support families," she said.

"The aim is to encourage the development of babies who have additional medical needs after they have left a Neonatal Unit.

“They will also give parents and carers a place to come together.

"Some families can feel anxious going to playgroups as their baby may have had a different start to life. Some of our babies have extra needs and the sessions are very much set up with that in mind.

“We know groups just like these have been a help to families when they’ve been set up in other places. We want to make sure the children in our area have the chance to reach their potential and get the best possible start in life once they’ve left hospital care.”

Little Treasures is held at Thorney Close Family Hub, which is part of Thorney Close Action and Enterprise Centre in Thorndale Road.

It is hosted on the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 1pm to 3pm, led by nursey nurses Claire Cook and Tina Pitchford and children’s community nurse, Paula Mulvaney.

Places at this group can be booked by calling 0191 561 4127.