Baby units in UK need improvement, funding

November 5, 2009 by Shawn Douglas
Filed under: News

Baby units require more staff to reach a critical goal of one-to-one care, but funding may be difficult to find.

A report by the National Audit Office two years ago found that care of sick babies in many neonatal units was lacking. This prompted the creation of The Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by NHS medical director Sir Bruce Keogh, with a goal of analyzing and categorizing deficiencies in the system.

The taskforce released its report detailing the need for one-to-one care of newborns in critical care, a standard already in place for adult patients. The group recommended an investment of 89 million pounds a year to reach that goal.

However, ministers so far have hesitated, recognizing that sources of funding for such a goal are difficult to find. Due to the economic situation, the NHS has already been asked to reduce costs by as much as 20 billion pounds by 2014.

In 2007, 30 percent of neonatal units in the U.K. didn’t have sufficient staff to give one-to-one care to newborns in critical care. The report theorized that some of the 2,127 babies that died in the first 28 days of life in 2007 could have been saved had there been sufficient specialist nurses.

“Premature and sick babies are the most vulnerable members of our society. They need the highest quality of hospital care to ensure they have the best possible start in life,” said Andy Cole, chief executive of baby charity Bliss, to the Daily Mail.

“The taskforce document highlights the serious shortages of nurses needed to care for babies and their families. There is an identified shortfall of over 2,700 nurses and 300 supporting therapists.”

Health Minister Ann Keen agreed, emphasizing the importance of the report.

“Having a sick baby is very distressing for parents at what should be one of their happiest moments,” she said.

“That’s why we’re providing the NHS with practical guidance on how to make neonatal services even better and take a family-centered approach to care.”

Both Ann Keen and Professor David Field of the British Association of Perinatal Medicine admit that funding is a major concern. Professor Field was optimistic, however, saying, “It does at least give us something with which to go to managers and put the case for services. It is the first time we have had a written set of standards.”