Care for babies born at less than 27 weeks, lighter than
800 grams or who need complex life support, will be provided by
Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) at Aberdeen Maternity Unit,
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Queen Elizabeth University
Hospital.
The new model of neonatal intensive care was recommended by The
Best Start Report and is based on evidence that care for babies
at highest risk is safest in units which can treat a high volume
of patients.
Neonatal units in Ninewells in Dundee, Princess Royal Maternity
in Glasgow, Wishaw General, Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy and
Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock will continue as local neonatal
units to provide neonatal care for their populations.
Women’s Health Minister said:
“These three Neonatal Intensive Care Units will offer the most
specialist and complex care in fewer centres for the most
pre-term and sickest babies. Local neonatal units will continue
to offer care to babies who need it, including a level of
neonatal intensive care, and no neonatal units are closing as
part of these plans. This decision has been made in line with
advice from expert clinicians.
“I would like to thank all of those who have worked with us to
look at how we can best deliver the changes recommended by the
Best Start Report and will offer increased care for those who
need it most, before they are able to return to one of our other
excellent local neonatal units across the country.”
Lesley Jackson, Clinical Lead for the Scottish Neonatal Network
and a Consultant Neonatologist in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
said:
“I very much welcome this change to the provision of neonatal
intensive care, which will enable clinical teams to deliver the
best outcomes for the smallest and sickest babies born in
Scotland. The neonatal community is committed to working
collaboratively to deliver the new model of neonatal care for our
patients and families.”
Caroline Lee-Davey, Bliss Chief Executive said:
“At Bliss, we believe the proposed changes have the potential to
improve the quality of neonatal services in Scotland, as well as
improve the care provided to babies and their families.
Reconfiguring services will help to make sure that the smallest
and sickest babies requiring highly specialist intensive care
every year will receive the best and safest care at a unit fully
equipped for their needs.
“It is crucial for parents to be by their baby’s side in the
hospital, playing a hands-on role as partners in care with the
medical team. When babies have to be transferred further from
home to receive the best care, appropriate support must be
provided to enable their parents to be at their cot side as much
as possible, including through the Young Patients Family Fund,
which enables families to claim financial assistance to support
them during their baby’s neonatal stay.”
Background
The Neonatal Intensive Care Options
Appraisal Report, led by expert NHS clincians and service
user representatives, summarises the approach to identify the
three neonatal intensive care Units in Scotland, including the
process for moving forward with implementation on a Scotland-wide
basis.
The Scottish Government accepted all 76 recommendations in The
Best Start (2017), which included the establishment of a new
model of neonatal intensive care, which would see the most
preterm and sickest babies receive specialist complex care in
fewer centres on the basis of evidence that shows improved
outcomes for those babies.
In Scotland there are approximately 50,000 births a year. Of
these, approximately 5,000 babies a year are admitted to neonatal
care. The vast majority require care which will continue to be
delivered in local neonatal units, and on postnatal wards.
Approximately 110-130 babies are born under 27 weeks gestation in
Scotland each year, and this change will affect 50-60 of those
babies a year.
