It was founded in April 1979 under the direction of Professor of Pediatrics K. Papadatos and with Neonatologists K. Pappas and H. Dellagrammatika as Scientific Directors. Since then, it has been operating continuously, offering high-level services to high-risk premature and full-term newborns. It accepts cases from maternity hospitals mainly in Attica, central and southern Greece, but also newborns up to 14 days old who were discharged from the maternity hospital and subsequently developed problems at home, as well as newborns and older infants referred from other NICUs with complex problems requiring special treatment .

The Neonatal Unit is located on the 2nd floor of the B wing of the Hospital and belongs to the B University Pediatric Clinic of the University of Athens. Its staff consists of 5 neonatologists from the National Health System, 1 assistant neonatologist, 4 pediatricians specializing in neonatology, and 2 pediatric residents. It has a capacity of 30 beds, 10 of which are for intensive care. The scientific director of the unit is currently the Director of the National Health System, I. Kapetanakis.
Traditionally, since its establishment, the NICU has allowed free visits for first-degree relatives 24 hours a day, while they are updated on a daily basis after the end of the visit. The family is an important source of support for the newborn, and parents are encouraged and trained to actively engage and participate in the care of their newborn (temperature measurement, feeding, personal hygiene, kangaroo care, assistance during various tests performed at the hospital, etc.). Thus, free visiting hours contribute to strengthening the parental bond, improving the neurodevelopmental progress of the newborn, and preparing for the smooth transition of the newborn’s care, upon discharge from the NICU, exclusively by the family.

Every year, 300-400 newborns suffering from a variety of diseases and pathological conditions of the neonatal age are treated, with very low mortality rates, which, indicatively, in the last three years (2011-13) ranged at 3.8%. After discharge from the NICU, premature and high-risk newborns are monitored until the age of 6 in a long-term follow-up clinic for the early detection of possible disorders in their neurodevelopment, with the aim of providing early and counseling intervention at the level of daily life. In addition, for newborns with complex multiple problems, there is a monthly follow-up clinic by a multidisciplinary team with the aim of coordinating and ensuring care adapted to the needs of the patient and the family.

The clinic aims to treat patients with conditions covering the entire spectrum of neonatology, and on the other hand, to train undergraduate and postgraduate students, nurses, and specialized pediatricians (providing full specialization in neonatology). Other scientific activities of the Unit include active participation in multicenter research protocols (e.g., Micafungin study, Neomero, Rainbow study) and in the international network for recording neonatal infections, NEONIN. In addition, the Unit monitors infections (related to central catheters), staff compliance with hand hygiene, and the proper use of antibiotics (antibiotic stewardship). The clinic participates in educational programs (conferences, round tables, scientific workshops) in Greece and abroad.