Since May 2024, Chiltern Music Therapy has been delivering a specialist music therapy service in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Whittington Hospital, supported by BBC Children in Need. The service offers gentle, evidence-based musical interventions for premature and unwell babies, supporting their development and regulation while also helping parents bond with their baby and feel more confident during an emotionally intense time.

Therapy is offered one day a week across the neonatal ward, including the intensive care, high dependency, and special care baby units, and is tailored to each infant’s medical stability and developmental needs. Sessions often take place during skin-to-skin contact, or with babies in their incubators, and incorporate singing, touch, and parent-led lullabies.

Our latest report highlights the impact of this work over the past year, including outcomes such as improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and enhanced bonding. It features feedback from families and staff, data insights, and moving stories from the neonatal units.

As one neonatal consultant shared:

“It has always been known about the stress that families face on NICUs with unwell babies – having music played calms the family members, de-stressing the babies as well. And all of this will lead to improved developmental outcomes of babies.”

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We are incredibly grateful to BBC Children in Need for making this important and impactful work possible.

Click on the link below to read the full report, including an explanation of what Neurologic Music Therapy entails, staff and patient feedback, outcomes and individual case studies.