UK Wedding News
19/10/2015
The study, which has been published in the Bliss Baby Report 2015: Hanging In The Balance, revealed there is a shortage of neonatal nurses and doctors, and as such, units are not meeting national standards on safe staffing levels for sick or premature babies.
For example, in order to meet the necessary standards to give babies the best chance of survival, an additional 2,140 nurses are needed.
64% of units do not have enough nurses, while two-thirds do not have enough doctors to meet national standards. One of the main reasons for this is said to be down to a lack of funding. There are also limited training and development opportunities, with 72% of units saying they struggle with nurse training and development.
Elsewhere, national standards outlined by the government suggest that it is unsafe for units to be running at higher than 80% occupancy on average, yet more than two-thirds of neonatal intensive care units are said to be consistently caring for more babies than this. This, in turn, puts babies at risk and adds to the stress of the family.
At 41% of units, the study revealed that parents do not have access to a trained mental health worker. This is despite parents of premature and sick babies being at a much greater risk of postnatal depression. Meanwhile, a third of units were unable to provide overnight accommodation for parents of critically ill babies or those living several miles from the hospital.
In response to the findings, Bliss – the premature and sick baby charity – has outlined a number of recommendations to address the issues. These include the government and NHS England investing in neonatal care, so hospitals can recruit the necessary staff. Plans need to be enforced to address skills shortages, while health trusts should ensure parents are offered free accommodation and meal vouchers or free hospital meals to ease the financial strain and enable them to stay with their baby.
Caroline Davey, Chief Executive for Bliss, commented: "The government set out a comprehensive vision for neonatal care in 2009, with the publication of the Toolkit for high quality neonatal services.
"Six years on and we are falling further behind on critical measures of quality and safety, and the shortfall in funding means units are simply unable to meet these standards.
"This must be a wake-up call for policy-makers and healthcare commissioners to take action. This unprecedented shortage is putting babies' safety, survival and long term development at risk. If serious investment is not made, services will be facing a crisis in years to come.
"It needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency, so that every baby has the best possible chance of survival and of having a full and healthy life."
(JP)
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England's Neonatal Services Are 'Overstretched' – Study
New research has found that England's neonatal services are "overstretched" and under "incredible pressure". As a result, it is putting the safety of sick babies at risk.The study, which has been published in the Bliss Baby Report 2015: Hanging In The Balance, revealed there is a shortage of neonatal nurses and doctors, and as such, units are not meeting national standards on safe staffing levels for sick or premature babies.
For example, in order to meet the necessary standards to give babies the best chance of survival, an additional 2,140 nurses are needed.
64% of units do not have enough nurses, while two-thirds do not have enough doctors to meet national standards. One of the main reasons for this is said to be down to a lack of funding. There are also limited training and development opportunities, with 72% of units saying they struggle with nurse training and development.
Elsewhere, national standards outlined by the government suggest that it is unsafe for units to be running at higher than 80% occupancy on average, yet more than two-thirds of neonatal intensive care units are said to be consistently caring for more babies than this. This, in turn, puts babies at risk and adds to the stress of the family.
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At 41% of units, the study revealed that parents do not have access to a trained mental health worker. This is despite parents of premature and sick babies being at a much greater risk of postnatal depression. Meanwhile, a third of units were unable to provide overnight accommodation for parents of critically ill babies or those living several miles from the hospital.
In response to the findings, Bliss – the premature and sick baby charity – has outlined a number of recommendations to address the issues. These include the government and NHS England investing in neonatal care, so hospitals can recruit the necessary staff. Plans need to be enforced to address skills shortages, while health trusts should ensure parents are offered free accommodation and meal vouchers or free hospital meals to ease the financial strain and enable them to stay with their baby.
Caroline Davey, Chief Executive for Bliss, commented: "The government set out a comprehensive vision for neonatal care in 2009, with the publication of the Toolkit for high quality neonatal services.
"Six years on and we are falling further behind on critical measures of quality and safety, and the shortfall in funding means units are simply unable to meet these standards.
"This must be a wake-up call for policy-makers and healthcare commissioners to take action. This unprecedented shortage is putting babies' safety, survival and long term development at risk. If serious investment is not made, services will be facing a crisis in years to come.
"It needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency, so that every baby has the best possible chance of survival and of having a full and healthy life."
(JP)
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