Nurse shortages continue to dog neonatal units

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Nurse and specialist cot shortages mean neonatal services in England are continuing to struggle to keep up with demand, despite a national reorganisation of neonatal provision, MPs have warned.

The Commons public accounts committee said the creation of 23 clinical networks five years ago had only had a limited effect on reducing regional variations in mortality rates.

In 2006-07, around 60,000 babies – roughly one in ten births – were admitted to the 180 neonatal units in England, at a cost to the NHS of some £420m, the committee's latest report said.

'Problems over recruiting, retaining and training the staff required to deliver the service remain a major challenge,' the report said.

Committee chairperson Edward Leigh added: 'Constraints in capacity mean that the Department of Health is still struggling to meet the demand for neonatal services which has risen year on year. The serious shortages of neonatal nurses must be addressed.

The premature baby charity BLISS published a number of reports last year, expressing concern at neonatal nurse provision across the UK.