About Networks

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

Click here to view BAPM 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.