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A new set of standards have been published in a bid to improve care of sick babies in England.

They follow criticism two years ago by the National Audit Office over standards of specialist baby care.

The Department of Health now wants one-to-one nursing in intensive care, one-to-two in high dependency units and one-to-four in special care.

While it acknowledges that most special care units will already be achieving these levels, concerns remain that in intensive care only about a quarter currently are.

The government also wants better transport arrangements between hospitals. While all hospitals have dedicated transfer teams only half of these are operational 24 hours a day.

Almost 70,000 babies a year are treated in neonatal units with demand having increased by 9% in three years with more older women having children and multiple births due to fertility treatment

Health Minister Ann Keen said she hoped the standards would make a difference but she also stressed that no extra money would be available for hospitals to take on more staff.

Campaigners and doctors remain worried about the lack of additional funding.

A spokeswoman for Bliss, the premature baby charity, said: "We are concerned that, with the lack of upfront investment, this could be another wasted opportunity to deliver the care that vulnerable babies desperately need."

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health welcomed the publication of a written set of standards for the first time but said resources needed to be made available to ensure standards were met.

 

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