This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
RCPCH identifies shortfalls in Welsh neonatal care
Analysis conducted by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health's (RCPCH) has found the Welsh NHS is seeing a number of ‘shortfalls’ in the care being given to sick and premature newborn babies.
An annual audit by the group found that premature babies received a follow-up appointment aged two in only 31 per cent of cases - compared to 60 per cent across Wales, England and Scotland.
The report also cited 14 per cent of eligible babies in Wales were not screened on time for retinopathy - a potentially serious eye condition which is a complication of being born prematurely.
The data showed that eight per cent did not appear to get screened at all for the condition.
Meanwhile, 20 per cent of parents in Wales did not have consultations with a senior member of the neonatal team within 24 hours of a baby being admitted.
A Welsh Government spokesman said: "Welsh units are performing comparably in most areas and within the expected standards for a number of the audit measures.
"All neonatal units in Wales will need to consider the findings of this report and develop local action plans to address any identified shortfalls in standards."
The report did maintain that neonatal services in Wales performed well in making sure antenatal steroids were give to mothers who gave birth prematurely, to reduce the chance of breathing difficulties in newborns.
Dr Roshan Adappa, clinical representative for Wales on the audit project board, said: "Wales has the lowest rates for feeding with a mother's milk.
"It has the highest percentage of babies for whom no eye screening data at all was entered and has, by some way, the lowest rates for recording of follow-up data at a child's two-year health check."
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