A new software system to help find the nearest hospital cot for critically ill newborn babies has been launched by the Department of Health.
The National Cot Locator was launched by health minister, Ivan Lewis, at the Princess of Wales Women’s Unit in Birmingham Heartlands Hospital today.
The government-funded system was ‘developed by clinical and professional experts’ and will allow nurses and clinicians to check an updated list of where available cots are located around England.
Lewis said: “On the occasions when a suitable cot is needed outside of the local network, a call to the National Neonatal Cot Locator will provide immediate up-to-date information about more distant options, making sure that these transfers can happen quickly, are effectively planned and can go as smoothly as possible.”
In July, a survey of UK neonatal units revealed 90% of specialist intensive care units had to close their doors to new admissions last year and babies were being regularly transferred between hospitals because of staffing and cot shortages.
One in eight babies need to be looked after in a neonatal unit at some point, and about 17,000 babies a year require intensive care.
Lewis added: “This will make a real difference to families and professionals seeking to ensure that babies and parents get the best possible care in usually very challenging circumstances.”
Neonatal networks aim to provide 95% of neonatal intensive care for babies locally. The National Cot Locator will allow transfers away from the local hospital to be planned and co-ordinated.
According to the BBC, data suggests three babies a day are transferred between hospitals because of staffing and cot shortages. Over the last year, the average number of cots available was 957.
Andy Cole, chief executive of Bliss, the premature baby charity, said: “Bliss welcomes this important strategic development. We hope to see the cot locator have a significant impact across England on the crucial issues of available cots and transfers for babies in need of intensive care.”
Around 40 neonatal intensive care units (level three) will be covered on the system. English NHS neonatal services are currently divided into 24 regional networks, each having centres of excellence to care for very sick babies.