I first joined BAPM in Summer 2019 when we submitted an application to the BAPM awards. I was thrilled when we won the Innovation Awards in 2019 for our Neonatal Animation.
I have found many benefits to joining BAPM. Throughout COVID the BAPM guidance has been invaluable and this year I’ve been part of a working group developing a framework on FICare. I have thoroughly enjoyed this and being able to influence work at a national level has been very rewarding.
In the future I’d love to see BAPM develop more perinatal pieces of work to enable closer working between maternity and Neonates. I’d also like to see additional support to encourage Trusts to deviate from guidance which means at present 2 parents cannot visit Neonatal units and facemasks having to be worn at same time. This will have detrimental impact on the long term development of these infants who cannot see their parents faces and separation will impact on parents wellbeing. The risk of COVID on units is so low in comparison to the potential impact of current practice on units.
To anyone else thinking of joining BAPM I’d tell them that it’s not just for Neonatal Clinical staff but also offers benefits to those in management positions and in the wider perinatal community.