Neonatal services in England understaffed and overstretched

A report by the charity Bliss, has found that currently there are not enough nursing staff in 64% of neonatal units across England and that in 70% of intensive care units, more babies are being cared for than is safe. The charity has called for urgent action to provide the needed resources.

Although a plan was established by the government in 2009 to organise and deliver neonatal services, the charity says that nothing has changed in the six years since.

Chief executive of Bliss, Caroline Davey, said “This must be a wake-up call for policymakers and healthcare commissioners to take action. If serious investment is not made, services will be facing a crisis in years to come.

“It needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency, so that every baby has the best possible chance of survival and of having a full and health life.”

One in nine babies currently needs neonatal care in England. The demand for care is perceived to be rising due to assisted conception availability, increases in survival rates for very premature babies and increased fertility.

A spokesperson for NHS England said that, despite the increase in demand, neonatal care standards in England were on a par with other European countries.

“We will consider the recommendations of the report and continue to work closely with Bliss and others to improve neonatal services, ensuring every premature or sick baby receives the best possible care.”

A spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said that the report’s findings were “extremely concerning”.

“Stretched and understaffed services affect the quality and safety of care provided to both mothers and babies. Patient care and safety underpin everything we do and long-term investment is needed to ensure healthcare professionals can deliver a high-quality service to all of their patients.”

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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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