Child-friendly app launches in neonatal ICU at Lister Hospital

A child-friendly app from Digital Health Rewired Pitchfest finalist, Little Journey, has launched for patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Lister Hospital.

The Little Journey app, originally developed to support children preparing for surgery, has been adapted to meet the needs of families with babies in neonatal care.

It was rolled out at Lister Hospital, part of East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, in December 2024 before being tailored to NICU patients in March 2025.

Michelle Garwood, neonatal sister at East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, said: “Having your baby admitted to the neonatal unit can be a very stressful and worrying time for parents and carers.

“We hope the introduction of this app will help reduce some of the families’ stress and anxiety by providing easily accessible information and visual guides relevant to their babies’ care.”

The free app features immersive 360-degree virtual tours of the unit, helping parents and young siblings familiarise themselves with the environment before and during their baby’s stay.

It also offers easy-to-understand clinical information on neonatal care, common conditions and treatments, as well as guidance on transfers between neonatal units.

Little Journey includes relaxation techniques, bite-sized educational articles, and fun distraction games aimed at reducing stress during what can be an overwhelming time.

Dr Chris Evans, chief executive and cofounder at Little Journey, said: “I’m incredibly proud to announce the expansion of our partnership with East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust.

“Families with children admitted to the NICU at Lister Hospital — as well as those attending for MRI, CT scans, or general surgery — can now access Little Journey’s support.

“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to improving the paediatric healthcare experience through accessible information and evidence-based support.

“At Little Journey, we believe that supporting the whole family is key to achieving the best outcomes for every child.

“Independent studies across NHS trusts and international hospitals are demonstrating the impact of our approach: reducing children’s anxiety, enhancing family understanding, and helping hospitals cut same-day cancellations, repeat scans, and service costs.”

The app is available for free on the App Store and Google Play and the trust’s NICU has iPads donated by a former NICU parent which are pre-loaded with the app and available for families to use whilst on the unit.

Little Journey reached the 2022 final of the annual Pitchfest competition for digital health startups, for its digital eSupport platform designed to psychologically prepare, inform and support children and families before, during and after healthcare interactions.

In August 2024, the app went live at Walsall Manor Hospital to help young patients prepare for surgery or treatment.