There are 24
Neonatal Networks across England, some are called Perinatal
Networks and some Newborn Networks, but they are all distinctly
similar in their goals and aims.
Networks were developed as a result of recommendations from the
Department of Health's "National Strategy for Improvement" 2003.
Following this national review of neonatal services, it was
recommended by the Department of Health that 'Managed Clinical
Networks' were the way forward for neonatal care.
Networks offer families access to appropriate care as close to
home as possible whilst reducing unnecessary transfers to units
further away from home to receive intensive care. They ensure that
groups of hospitals and neonatal units provide various levels of
care locally.
Networks help improve the quality of neonatal care, and provide
access to the appropriate neonatal unit and a seamless pathway of
care across all levels of care. By setting up and managing
neonatal care in this way there is improved communication and by
working together as a Network this allows the concentration of
skills and expertise where they are required.
Care for newborn infants in hospital is divided into 4
categories:
Intensive Care (IC)
High Dependency Care (HD)
Special Care (SC)
Normal Care
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levels of care
Within each Network different hospitals provide a mix and range
of these levels of care as agreed by that Network. This is based
on resources, capacity, geography and the availability of
appropriately skilled and trained staff. Each Network ensures that
every infant has access to the right level of care, with the right
resources and that they are cared for by staff with the right
skills.
Within a Network, at least one hospital will have Level 3
(intensive care) facilities, offering a specialist centre of
expertise and experience for the sickest infants. The Level 3 unit
will work closely with the other Network Level 1 and 2 units,
providing short term intensive care, high dependency care and
special care.