WIREDGOV

We've produced a resource to support staff in preventing avoidable admissions of full-term babies.

It is a priority for the NHS to reduce avoidable harm that can lead to full-term babies (babies born after 37 weeks of pregnancy) being admitted to neonatal units. The number of unexpected admissions to neonatal units is seen as a proxy indicator that preventable harm may have been caused at some point along the maternity or neonatal pathway.

This alert asks all relevant providers to review the resource and identify how teams can use it to improve the safety of care and keep mothers and babies together whenever it is safe to do so. The resource focuses on reducing harm caused by hypoglycaemia; jaundice and respiratory symptoms.

Preventing separation, except for compelling medical indications, is essential in providing safe maternity services.

• Patient safety alerts
• Preventing avoidable admissions of full-term babies
• Find out more about out work to reduce admission of full term babies to neonatal units
• Join the maternity and neonatal discussion boardopens in a new window
• Neonatal hypoglycaemia: learning from claims