Call for expenses review for families of premature babies
A leading charity has called on Holyrood to honour its pledge to urgently review its approach to expenses for families of babies in neonatal care.
Research published by Bliss Scotland, who have Sir Chris Hoy’s wife Lady Sarra as their official ambassador, revealed that the average weekly cost of having a baby in neonatal care is £218 across the country.
This includes £61 on buying food and drink in and around the hospital, £74 spent on travel, and £81 for childcare for older children.
Almost 80 per cent of parents said that having a baby in the neonatal unit had worsened their financial situation.
While the health service in Scotland does have minimum requirements for units to provide support to families with accommodation, food and drink, the charity warn that these standards are still not being met.
Bliss Scotland called for the implementation of urgent, immediate solutions, as well as the delivery of longer-term recommendations made by the government’s own Best Start review and the Bliss Scotland Baby Report.
These include urgent intervention from the Scottish Government to provide financial support for parents who are on neonatal units facing increased costs as a result of their baby’s stay and an urgent review of expenses for families with children in neonatal care in order to develop a longterm, nationally agreed policy.
Caroline Lee-davey, chief executive of Bliss Scotland, said: “Premature and sick babies in neonatal care need their parents to be with them as much as possible to support their care and recovery. Yet many families simply can’t afford to be with their baby because of the high costs of travel, accommodation and food.
“Across hospitals in Scotland, a lack of facilities, accommodation and financial support is keeping parents from being with their babies when they need them most. The Scottish Government must take urgent action now to support families facing the financial burden of neonatal care this winter.”
Shadow health secretary, Miles Briggs, said: “I welcome Bliss Scotland’s campaign bringing attention to the financial costs of families with babies in neonatal units.
“I recognise that having a baby in the neonatal unit can make it difficult for parents to visit their baby, which is crucial for the baby and the parents. Also, the significant costs that come with having a baby in a neonatal unit can be a challenge for parents, especiallythoseonlowerincomes.” Mother-of-one Coady Dorman was left hundreds of pounds in debt after her son Matthew was born at 29 weeks gestation.
A Caesarean section left her unable to drive, meaning she had to rely on the goodwill of family and friends for lifts to and from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and her home in Broxburn, West Lothain.
Coady called on the Scottish Government to do more to help families with babies in neonatal care.
She said: “For parents who are having children on special care units, it would be fantastic if there was some sort of government allowance to help. Of course for your children, you’d do anything, get loans – do anything as long as you are with your child. But under the surface it’s very stressful.”