A new video messaging app has made its debut at King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital, designed specifically to support families with premature infants. This innovative tool, made possible through funding from King’s College Hospital Charity, enables staff in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to securely send regular photo and video updates to families.
Enhancing Family Connections
The app allows families to witness their babies’ play and therapy sessions, baths, and feeding times, even when they cannot be physically present. Dr. Anusha Arasu, a consultant in neonatal medicine at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, “A stay on a neonatal unit can be one of the most stressful times for a family, but we can now support parents to be more involved and connected to their baby’s care. This positively impacts family-centered care, even when they are not able to be at the hospital.”
Dr. Arasu further noted that the app not only facilitates the sharing of photographs and updates but also helps alleviate separation anxiety, allowing families to forge and strengthen emotional bonds with their babies.
Since its launch in June 2025, the app has also provided parents and families with a platform to ask questions and receive crucial updates regarding their baby’s progress. Iona Joy, director of grants and insight at King’s College Hospital Charity, remarked, “Keeping families connected is a vital part of our mission to make the best care possible at King’s. We are thrilled to support this initiative, which helps families feel close to their babies even when they can’t be physically present.”
Dr. Numan Shahid and his wife, Dr. Hajar Husain, have utilized the app to stay informed about their four-month-old daughter, who was born prematurely at 27 weeks at King’s College Hospital. Dr. Shahid expressed his appreciation, stating, “The app is an incredible idea – having updates on our little girl while I’m working is so uplifting. She is only a few months old, but she’s a fighter, and we’re hoping she can come home soon. In the meantime, we’re so thankful we have this way to keep in touch when we can’t be in the unit with our daughter. We are profoundly grateful to the entire NICU team at King’s for their extraordinary care, dedication, and for giving families like ours this wonderful opportunity to stay connected and involved in our baby’s journey.”
In a related development, a child-friendly app from Digital Health Rewired Pitchfest finalist, Little Journey, was launched in May 2025 for NICU patients at Lister Hospital. Originally developed to support children preparing for surgery, the Little Journey app has been adapted to cater to the needs of families with babies in neonatal care, further enhancing the support available to these families during challenging times.
