Written Statement - Progress with Improving Neonatal Services

In September, I gave an undertaking to update you before recess, on the progress that is being made in respect of improving neonatal services in Wales. I am pleased to report that since I welcomed the recommendations of the Health, Well Being and Local Government Committee report, significant progress has been made in driving forward improvements for sick and premature babies and their families using the additional £2 million made available by the Welsh Assembly Government.

I am pleased to report that a Consultant Neonatologist at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has been appointed as Lead Clinician for the Wales Neonatal Network and the post of Neonatal Network Manager has also been filled. 

The establishment of the Neonatal Clinical Network for Wales will facilitate the improvement in quality of care across all units in Wales offering any of the three levels of neonatal care. One of its primary purposes is to support units in achieving compliance with the All Wales Neonatal Standards, developed by the Children and Young People’s Specialised Services Project.

The Wales Neonatal Steering Group is now fully established and is chaired by the Director of Planning and Deputy Chief Executive of Aneurin Bevan Health Board. This acts as an advisory group to the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC), where Health Boards come together to plan and secure neonatal services on an all Wales basis, and the Network.

Whilst Local Health Boards (LHBs) are responsible for ensuring that neonatal services in their area meet the All Wales Neonatal Standards, the purpose of the Steering Group and the Network is to co-ordinate the approach across Wales and to ensure that the benefits of working collaboratively are realised.

The Steering Group has also established a number of sub groups – each clinically led as follows:

Neonatal Transport – to co-ordinate the development of the new transport services

Clinical Information – to lead and co-ordinate the implementation of the network wide information system

Nursing & Therapies – to lead and co-ordinate neonatal nurse manpower planning and the development of network wide training and development.

LHBs have now completed an assessment of their current levels of compliance with the All Wales Neonatal Standards and submitted these results to the Network. The Network has also carried out a capacity review of current neonatal services across Wales.

Using this baseline information, the Network is drawing out themes to develop a national action plan. This will then be used to inform and drive the ongoing work programme of the Network and LHBs.

In addition to this important work, I am pleased to report progress has been made in the setting up of the 12 hour Neonatal Transport service by the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.  Two neonatal transports services, one in South Wales and one in North Wales, are planned to begin on 3 January 2011. These services will transfer, where clinically appropriate, premature and sick babies between units to ensure they receive care at the right level of intensity.  To ensure safe and sustainable services, an additional 6 consultants have been appointed in South Wales, an additional consultant has been appointed in North Wales with the recruitment of a further one well underway. One of the 6 posts in South Wales will be covered through contingency arrangements in the first few months due to maternity leave and completion of training requirements.

As well as the medical staff, 6 neonatal nurses have been appointed in South Wales and 2.75 WTE have been appointed in North Wales. The services will operate 12 hours a day from 3 January 2011, with an evaluation planned for six months later, to consider the viability of moving to a 24 hour service in the future. 

Clinical audit must underpin all healthcare.  The Neonatal clinical audit system, BadgerNet has now been procured by each Health Board, and the Neonatal Network is seeking agreement from all the Health Boards so that it too can gain access to local data. Each unit will be moving to entering live data during December, and the system will formally go live in January 2011. This audit system will ensure that LHBs have access to high quality clinical data to support the clinical auditing and planning of services across Wales. Whilst the rest of the UK use parts of the BadgerNet system, Wales will be the first country to use the most up to date and extended system.

The Welsh Assembly Government remains committed to ensuring that neonatal services are improved to ensure the best outcomes possible for the most vulnerable babies and their families. My officials will continue to monitor progress closely.