Call for neonatal staffing boost

Experts have called for a new shake-up of the care of premature babies – calling for them to given the same rights as adult patients.

A statement issued by experts and campaigners calls for neonatal intensive care wards to have one nurse for each baby.

It calls for an improvement of training for nurses and protection against staff shortages.

The statement has been backed by the Royal College of Nursing, the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Children’s Rights Alliance and the charity Bliss.

Bliss says only four per cent of units achieve these staffing levels and units are often closed to admission because of shortages of specialist nurses.

Andy Cole, of Bliss, said: "We wholeheartedly agree that sick and premature babies should receive the same level of care as children and adults.

"The care of our most vulnerable babies continues to be compromised by a lack of qualified neonatal staff and the recruitment and training of more nurses must be a top priority for every Trust and Health Board."

RCN chief executive Dr Peter Carter said: "Babies are one of the most vulnerable groups in society and we have to ensure that we secure increased funding and investment in specialist staff to care for them.

"Only then will we be able to ensure neonatal units are operating at safe levels and babies are receiving the best possible treatment."

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