Thousands of Premature Babies ‘Failed’ By Hospitals
By Michael Howie
THOUSANDS of babies born prematurely in Scotland are being failed by the health service, according to a report that says neonatal units are reaching breaking point.
A chronic shortage of specialist nurses for premature and seriously ill babies has been uncovered by the biggest-ever survey of Scotland’s neonatal facilities.
In its report Small Babies, Short Changed?, published today, the charity Bliss says a growing shortage of nurses means that overstretched units are failing to provide the best care for sick babies.
About 8,000 babies in Scotland every year require neonatal care – one baby in every seven. Experts agree that the most vulnerable require one-to-one care, but in Scotland the ratio of nurses to such desperately ill infants is two-to-one.
Asked whether babies were dying as a result of pressure on the system, Andy Cole, chief executive of Bliss, said: “It’s certainly true that babies aren’t receiving the optimum level of care that they should be.”
He welcomed recent moves by the Scottish Government to improve the nation’s health, but added: “It is the very earliest interventions that will have the biggest impact on the future health of some children.
“For premature babies, the first hours, days and weeks of life will inevitably have a major impact on their future life. We are still failing those one in seven babies in Scotland. There is much to do and we look to the government and health boards to do it before it’s too late.”
Research carried out by Oxford University has found that mortality rates for the most ill babies are significantly reduced when neonatal units are able to provide one nurse per baby.
The Bliss report says 200 new specialist nurses are needed to shore up Scotland’s neonatal units, which are about one third under strength. And it found that 45 per cent of units were operating at an average occupancy of 90 per cent or more for the whole year – compared with a “safe” level of 70 per cent. Many babies are having to be transported long distances to find suitable care, and babies are often taken away from their parents in the process.
Mr Cole said: “The service is close to breaking point and, unless significant action is taken now, Scotland’s babies and their families face a bleak future.”
Public health minister Shona Robison promised to consider the report’s findings. “We are aware of issues in neonatal services, and are currently carrying out a comprehensive review of this service, through a dedicated neonatal sub-group of the Maternity Services Action Group. Andy Cole is a member of the group.”
MORE INFO www.bliss.org.uk/
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