Public asked how support can be improved for parents of sick babies

A regional NHS body organising cutting edge health care is asking people in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to suggest how support can be improved for parents and families with newborn babies in intensive care, as it invests £1.4 million in services.

The NHS East of England Specialised Commissioning Group (SCG) both buys (commissions) and monitors a diverse range of pioneering treatments from neonatal care for premature babies to breakthrough treatments for rare cancers and cardiac conditions.

They will be holding nine events across the three counties throughout June and July so that people can find out more about what is happening to improve care for small and sick babies in these areas, and also make suggestions about what affects parents and families the most when they have a baby in intensive care.

It follows a review of neonatal care in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire carried out by clinicians, a parent and commissioners from the local NHS. The review recommended that the very small and sick babies, which make up only 1-3% of all babies admitted to neonatal care, should be cared for at larger intensive care units where the doctors and nurses have regular enough experience of dealing with their complex conditions.

These are located at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. The review will allow each unit to meet national clinical standards issued by the Department of Health and the body responsible for specialist neonatal care, via a five year investment programme.

The SCG has been working closely with its clinical partners at the East of England Perinatal Networks and unit staff at all eight hospitals in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, where an excellent service for local woman and babies will continue.

The review outcome will mean that the majority of the 30,000 babies born in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire will continue to receive any extra support they need at their local hospital, with only around 150 babies being stabilised and transferred for the most complex care.

Representatives from the SCG and East of England Perinatal Networks will be speaking to people at discovery events being held in various locations, where information packs and feedback forms will be provided.

Norwich
East City Children's Centre, Duckett Close, Norwich, Norfolk, NRH 8DB
13 July, 2011 at 11.30-13:30

Great Yarmouth
The Priory Centre, Priory Plain, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NRH 8DB
19 July, 2011 at 13.00-15:00

These can also be found on the SCG website at http://www.eoescg.nhs.uk/getinvolved, where dates for the events are also listed.

The deadline for feedback is 8 August, 2011 and all responses should be returned to: neonatal@eoescg.nhs.uk