Sick and premature baby charity Bliss says shortage of staff affects two thirds of units, and most work beyond safe capacity
Two thirds of NHS neonatal intensive care units do not have enough nurses and doctors, and a similar number are consistently working at higher than safe capacity, a charity has warned. A growing shortage of specialist nurses and doctors has left neonatal services “stretched to breaking point”, putting the safety of vulnerable babies at risk according to the report from the sick and premature baby charity Bliss.
It argues that without urgent action from the government and NHS England, the gap between the standards expected and the care provided will widen. “The government set out a comprehensive vision for neonatal care in 2009, with the publication of the toolkit for high quality neonatal services,” said Caroline Davey, chief executive of Bliss. “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.”
Click on the link to read more
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/19/bliss-neonatal-intensive-care-units-stretched
Filed under: Uncategorized, Babies, intensive care
