24
Feb 2017
More sick newborns should stay with their mother instead of being in special care
A new report published by NHS Improvement, has urged doctors to allow full-term sick babies to stay with their mothers whenever possible, rather than being placed in special care units.
Keeping the mother and baby together encourages breastfeeding and enables the pair to bond, which could help with the baby’s development later on. Furthermore, within the first few hours of a baby’s life, skin to skin contact is vitally important as at this time the mother releases oxytocin, which helps to regulate the baby’s breathing, temperature and heartbeat.
National director of patient safety of the NHS, Dr Mike Durkin, said “This is about getting the balance right so babies who need specialist treatment are identified and admitted as soon as possible, while being sure that for those babies where it is safe to do so, they are kept with their mothers.”
NHS Improvement’s Birte Harlev-Lam, said “As a midwife I know how important it is for mums and their babies to spend those very special few hours after birth together. This time is vital for a baby’s health and development.
“When a baby needs additional care shortly after birth, separating them from their mother causes stress for both mother and baby, which can also impact on a baby’s ability to breastfeed or regulate its temperature.”
The Royal Collage of Midwives’ Cathy Warwick, said “It is critical if we are to ensure safe high quality care that the findings of this report are implemented.
“We must reduce unnecessary admissions to neonatal intensive care units and readmissions to hospital. Mothers and babies should never be separated unless this is absolutely necessary.
“Not only is this important in terms of a mother’s experience of care but also for the long term health and well-being of her baby.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record. The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence. He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims. Tony also acts as the Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled. Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk. Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win-no fee solicitors for free legal advice on the freephone number below.
Freephone: 0800 028 2969
For further information, please see our cerebral palsy and birth injury website:
http://www.cerebralpalsyclaimssolicitors.co.uk
Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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