I have recently received a number of e-mails regarding neonatal care.
It is vital that the care and support is in place for parents and babies requiring these services; the experience can take a considerable emotional and physical toll.
A lot of good work is being done by the neonatal intensive care unit at the QMC. During my time as Minister for Public Health, I was pleased to help support their good work by bringing greater investment in nursing and midwifery for the QMC through the arrival of five advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs). It is imperative that we continue to work hard to ensure every mother and their baby receive the best possible neonatal care and support.
Locally, as many of the e-mails point out, problems can arise with the journey distances to and from neonatal intensive care units. I am pleased that access to the unit at the QMC has improved for my constituents with the recent developments in the tram network. This has not only improved the transport links but facilitated more cost-effective travel for those using the hospital.
More can be done however for sick or premature babies and their mothers. I am pleased that the Government recently outlined a Maternity Transformation Programme in their mandate for NHS England that will better address the issue. This will involve a system-wide collaborative effort between the Department of Health and partners to achieve a national maternity ambition of reducing the 2010 rates of stillbirths, neonatal deaths and brain injuries in babies that occur during or soon after birth. The Government has targeted a 20% reduction in these rates by 2020 which will demonstrate progress towards the national ambition to reduce the rates by 50% by 2030. I’m also pleased that the Government has committed to investing £365 million between 2015/16 and 2020/21 to improve specialist perinatal mental health services.
The Government will also work with NHS England to consider the recommendations of the Bliss report. Ministers will continue to work closely with Bliss and others to improve neonatal services, so that all premature and sick babies receive the best possible care.
Thank you once again for contacting on this important issue.