Steve showed his support for special care babies at a House of Commons reception held earlier this month before visiting Winchester's neo-natal unit.
The reception, on Tuesday 2nd November, marked the launch of a report by special care baby charity Bliss titled The Chance of a Lifetime looking at neonatal services across England and was attended by a senior member of the Winchester team.
The Chance of a Lifetime reveals that there is a shortage of 1,150 nurses to care for the 70,000 babies in need of specialist hospital care each year in England. Neonatal units are working way above the recommended occupancy level putting babies’ lives at risk and families are being put under immense financial and emotional pressure at what is already an extremely difficult time.
In support of the vital work Bliss carries out across the UK, supporting the families of babies who require special care, Steve said: “One in nine babies in Winchester are admitted to specialist hospital care each year. Babies have the same right to care as everyone else, yet Bliss’ report shows that our most vulnerable babies are not always getting the care they need in spite of the heroic work undertaken in specialist units. I am delighted to support the vital work that Bliss does fighting for better services for premature and sick babies. It was so moving to visit the neonatal unit in Winchester off the back of this report launch; the work they are doing for our community is beyond special and I know many people locally have been touched in some way by the unit.”
Bliss Chief Executive Andy Cole said, “We are delighted that Steve Brine was able to join us for the launch of our report and support the work we do. Special care baby units in England do fantastic work but are still very understaffed. Although the government has made welcome steps forward there is still a long way to go before special care babies receive the care they deserve.”
Pictured; Steve Brine and Isobel Gowan, Bliss Chair of Trustees
More information...
Services providing care to premature and sick babies are stretched to the limit.
70,000 babies are born in England needing specialist hospital care.
1,150 more nurses are needed to meet minimum standards.
Less than a third of neonatal units have enough nurses to meet minimum standards.
Less than a quarter of neonatal intensive care units meet minimum nursing standards. Another 700 more nurses are needed to meet the shortfall in units looking after the sickest babies.
Three quarters of units had to close to new admissions at some point in 2009.
Four fifths of units running at an average occupancy of 100% while the recommended level is that no more than 80 per cent of cots should be full.
60 per cent of parents told us that there was no accommodation in or next to the unit.
250 more parent rooms needed to meet minimum standards.
Parents whose baby is admitted to neonatal care face extra costs averaging £310 per week. This is on top of all the usual expenses associated with having a new baby. The most significant cost faced by families was through loss of earnings.
Bliss wants to see commitment from the Coalition government to make the necessary improvements to ensure the very best care is being given to England’s sickest babies.
For further information about Bliss please visit: www.bliss.org.uk