Early babies at risk in NHS wards crisis
Premature babies are being put at risk by poor staffing levels in neonatal baby units, experts warn today.
The British Association of Perinatal Medicine – the UK’s foremost group working in newborn care – says nationally agreed staffing levels are not being met as an experienced midwife working in one Scottish neonatal unit told how she decided to retire because she cannot give the care required to work up to 14-hour shifts without proper breaks.
The staffing concerns have emerged as the Scottish Government investigates a rise in neonatal deaths in September 2021 and March 2022.
Dr Anoo Jain, a neonatal consultant and honorary treasurer at the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, said: “Patient safety standards were set in the 1990s suggesting a 1:1 nurse-to-patient ratio for neonatal babies in intensive care and 1:2 for those in high dependency. However, nationally in the UK we do not reach those standards regularly.”
He said the most recent figures for Scotland, taken from the National Neonatal Audit in 2019, showed neonatal wards only reach the correct level of staffing 78% of the time, adding: “Evidence tells us babies in units adequately staffed are more likely to survive and also in a healthier way, without disabilities associated with the rigours of surviving a premature birth.”
Babies born very early can suffer a range of health problems, including breathing difficulties, heart issues and brain haemorrhage.
Fears over inadequate staffing levels were echoed by leading baby charity Bliss, where chief executive Caroline Lee-Davey said: “For babies born premature or sick to