SICK BABY UNITS ARE ‘AT BREAKING POINT’

9 in 10 care for more infants than is safe

SICK and premature babies are being put at risk as neonatal intensive care units are stretched to breaking point, a report warns.

Some 86% of the units – nearly nine in 10 – are consistently caring for more infants than is considered safe, experts found.

Staff shortages resulted in 855 babies being transferred between hospitals in the last year.

More than half of neonatal units said their clinical leaders were not included in discussions on activity levels and funding, the report by baby charity Bliss found.

Demand is underestimated as a result, it said, adding: “Coupled with staffing shortages, this is putting units under huge pressure.”

An extra 2,140 neonatal nurses are needed, the authors said. They added: “Staff are being stretched to breaking point, putting babies’ safety and survival at risk and impacting their development.”

Bliss chief Caroline Davey said services are behind on quality and safety measures recommended by the Department of Health in 2009.

Prof Neena Modi of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said: “When care of babies is compromised, so too are their chances of lifelong heath.”

Professor Edward Baker of the Care Quality Commission said neonatal care is under review.

Health Minister George Freeman s said: “There are more than 1,700 additional nurses in neonatal and maternity services since 2010 but we want to do more.

“We’ve invested £35million in maternity care and committed to £75million to help drive improvements in perinatal mental health.”