King’s launches messaging app for families with premature babies

A video messaging app has been launched at King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital to support families with premature babies. 

The app, funded through King’s College Hospital Charity, allows staff on neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to send regular photo and video updates securely to families.

This allows families to see their babies’ play and therapy sessions, baths and feeding times when they are not able to be with them.

Dr Anusha Arasu, consultant in neonatal medicine at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “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 more connected to their baby’s care, as well as making a positive impact in delivering family centred care, even when they are not able to be at hospital.

“The app not only allows us to share photographs and updates with parents, but helps to reduce separation anxiety and allows the whole family to create and build an emotional bond with their baby.”

Parents and families can also use the app, which went live at both hospitals in June 2025, to ask questions and receive important updates about their baby’s progress.

Iona Joy, director of grants and insight at King’s College Hospital Charity, said: “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 both used the app to receive regular updates on their four-month-old daughter, who was born prematurely at 27 weeks at King’s College Hospital.

Dr Shahid said: “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.”

Meanwhile, in May 2025, a child-friendly app from Digital Health Rewired Pitchfest finalist, Little Journey, launched for patients in the 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.