Call made for more funding for Welsh premature care

November 13, 2009 by Shawn Douglas
Filed under: News

Calls are being made for more investment in Welsh neonatal and premature care by charity Bliss.

U.K. charity Bliss, marking their 30th anniversary, published a report today indicating that Wales’ ability to care for sick and premature babies has been less than adequate for over 30 years, with today’s staff being pushed to the limit.

Rising birthrates have increased pressure on Welsh hospitals and staff to meet the level of care needed to attend to babies with special needs.

Andy Cole, chief executive of Bliss, said: “We are certainly disappointed that we are facing the same issues as we were 30 years ago.”

“There has not been much movement in the last five or 10 years, but in the last year Health Minister Edwina Hart has made neonatal care an issue. We now need a commitment that 2009-10 will be the year when we see the change—we need to see the health minister and the health service deliver.”

Health Minister Edwina Hart set aside four million pounds in new funding last year with an additional two million pounds committed to maintain services. The money will likely be used to pay for a 12-hour dedicated neonatal transport service, one that would transport mothers and babies between hospitals for the specialist care they need.

Yet, Scotland and England both have 24-hour transport service leading some to wonder what’s going wrong in Wales. If the 12-hour service is implemented, it would still leave gaps in coverage for late-night service.

“[It] means that babies born in the middle of the night will have to rely on an ad-hoc service and may not get the care they desperately need,” said the report.

A spokesman for the Assembly Government said that a 24-hour service is in the future, but it will take time to get there.

“The proposal for implementation of a 12-hour transfer service will allow sustainable development of services in Wales and provides for training and development of existing staff to enable planned progress towards a 24-hour transfer service.”

Andy Cole is encouraged that funding has been issued, labeling it “an important first step”.

“But there is still a long way to go,” he said. “We call on the Welsh Assembly Government to bring the care of our most vulnerable babies and their families up to the highest possible standard and to invest in the children of tomorrow.”