Formal NHS Scotland partner InnoScot Health has played a key role in the development of ‘game-changing’ scrubs with a warm kangaroo-style pouch, allowing vital skin-to-skin contact for newborns

Stacey Boyle, an Elective Section Midwife with NHS Lothian, and Senior Charge Nurse, Marianne Hay, invented the new product that is improving outcomes for tiny babies and has the potential to revolutionise neonatal care across the UK and globally.

Newborns delivered by Caesarean Section can now be carefully placed into the fleece pouch worn by birthing partners while the surgical team focus on the mum and the completion of the procedure.

It means that newborns can nestle inside Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey)™ and immediately reap all of the benefits of skin-to-skin contact, helping them to adjust to life outside the womb by keeping them warm while regulating heart rate and breathing; encouraging babies to look for breasts to start feeding; and assisting with immediate bonding and emotional connection.

Previously, skin-to-skin contact could be challenging due to the restricted size of the theatre table. Most women are also uncomfortable trying to do it and it can be unsafe for babies when mums are lying flat.

Birthing partners are increasingly keen to step in with skin-to-skin contact in the interim, which means they need to take off their scrub tops, and then the newborn is placed on their chest and covered with blankets or towels.

That does not always effectively sustain or assist in keeping babies warm, meaning they can be at risk of having to be admitted to special care, while staff often note that a lot of partners feel self-conscious without a top on.

Project Manager at InnoScot Health, Paula Sweeten said: “Reflecting on this issue while working in theatre at St John’s Hospital in Livingston, Stacey and Marianne began to wonder if there was a better solution.

“They alighted on the idea of a special set of scrubs for partners that have a kangaroo-style pouch to allow vital skin-to-skin contact to take place as soon as the baby is born with the help of cost-effective, upcycled NHS fleeces as a covering material with a secure Velcro opening altered onto new scrubs.

“Auditing work looking at temperature, the number of admissions to special care, and other factors helped to confirm the positive effects on newborns. We were immediately struck by what a great idea it was and the hard work and passion that had already been devoted to it.

“Since spring 2024, we have worked closely with Stacey and Marianne to realise their ambitions for the innovation to reach many more hospitals and families, and we’re delighted that they’ve been pleased by the results.”

Alongside NHS Lothian’s Research and Development team, InnoScot Health helped protect and register the design while liaising constantly with the different parties involved to ensure a high level of communication, understanding, and progress.

This means that the Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey)™ are now well-placed to become more widely available through manufacturing partners.

Fiona Schaefer, East of Scotland Innovation Manager for InnoScot Health, said: “The Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey)™ are a game-changing innovation for promoting skin-to-skin contact with newborns.

“This is a fantastic example of the value of ideas emerging from within NHS Scotland. The scrubs have the potential to reach hospitals across the UK, and possibly even globally, improving neonatal care and outcomes for families.”

During a recent InnoScot Health webinar focusing on the organisation’s new drive to encourage fresh ideas from nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals (AHPs), Marianne said: “We were at a point where we needed to go further, and thought, ‘Where do we go from here?’

“We were met with a flew blanks initially, and then thankfully one of our associate service managers said, ‘Have you heard of InnoScot Health?’

“It’s just been completely a game-changer. From the valuable support provided to get to the next stage to actually sharing an innovation, it’s been an immense support.

“You helped with all the design registration, the legal aspects. You’ve done all the communication, all the support, sourcing a manufacturer, looking at all the companies that were available. It’s been invaluable.

“We honestly couldn’t have done it without your professional advice, your knowledge, and all your support. This wouldn’t be where it is now if it wasn’t for you.”