Hospital unit for sick babies could be downgraded by NHS
Plans would see more sick babies cared for outside Sussex
TheneonatalunitatStRichard’s Hospital in Chichester could be downgraded, with some services provided at Portsmouth instead.
Neonatal critical care is a specialised service commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement.
It provides an emergency service and ongoing support when a baby is born very prematurely, becomes sick or develops a medical problem.
St Richard’s Hospital currently has a local neonatal unit (LNU), but this could be downgraded to a special care unit (SCU).
If the proposal goes ahead it would mean some low birthweight and sick babies would be cared for at the neonatal intensive care unit at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, which already provides a service for the very smallest and sickest babies from St Richard’s.
According to a report from NHS England, St Richard’s does not care for enough very small or very sick babies to give staff enough exposure ‘to give the very best care to these babies’.
It said both the number of births and the number of very small babies born who need care at St Richard’s was trending downwards.
The changes would bring the neonatal service at St Richard’s in line with national guidelines.
The report added: “The change will ensure the sustainability of the service at St Richard’s. In recent years changes along these lines have been successfully undertaken elsewhere in the South East region.”
The unit currently has ten declared cots, three intensive high-dependency care cots and nine special care cots.
A spokesman for the NHS said the proposal means that on average, nine babies requiring the most specialist neonatal care will be cared for elsewhere with the majority continuing to receive care at St Richard’s.
The proposed ‘redesignation’ is part of a national programme set to conclude by 2024.
An NHS South East spokesman said: “NHS England South East is reviewing the provision of neonatal care across the South East to ensure it complies with national standards set by the British Association of Perinatal Medicine to ensure access to the highest quality care for women and babies using these services.
The demand for specialist neonatal services at St Richard’s has changed over time and this proposal will ensure it more accurately reflects the needs of most babies that require care there while continuing to provide specialist care for the small number needing it as close by as possible.”
The unit was much praised during the Support St Richard’s campaign back in 2007 when many of the hospital’s services – including the unit – were under threat of being downgraded.
A period of consultation will take place before any changes are made and only the neonatal unit is affected.