19 June 2008
The recent reorganisation of neonatal services has had little impact on matching supply and demand, leaving every unit turning away the most vulnerable babies on a weekly basis, MPs have found.
A report from the Public Accounts Committee, published on June 17, says that a continued lack of resources – particularly a shortage of nurses – is preventing the Department of Health from meeting ever-increasing demand. Following a 2003 review, the 180 neonatal hospital units were reorganised into 23 geographical, managed clinical networks. Around 60,000 babies, or one in ten, are admitted to neonatal units each year at a cost of some £420m.
The PAC report, Caring for vulnerable babies: the reorganisation of neonatal services in England, says that, overall, communication and co-ordination between units has improved as a result of the networks. Progress has also been made in reducing the number of long-distance transfers babies have to make to receive the necessary treatment.
However, every neonatal unit is forced to turn away vulnerable babies at least once a week due to a lack of cots.
The MPs also found that only half of the networks provide 24-hour transport to transfer babies where necessary.
PAC chair Edward Leigh said: 'The serious shortages of neonatal nurses must be addressed. Only half of the networks provide round-the-clock transport services to transfer babies to other units for the right levels of specialist care. 'And high occupancy rates in a third of units could have major implications for patient safety, owing to increased risk of infection or inadequate staffing levels.'
Bliss, the special care baby charity, welcomed the report and urged action on the shortage of 2,300 neonatal nurses.
Chief executive Andy Cole said: 'We need to take action now to ensure that babies in intensive care get the one-to-one nursing care they need and deserve. We also want to see all areas of the country getting 24/7 access to dedicated neonatal transport.'
PFjun2008
