About Networks

There are 22 Neonatal Networks across England, some are called Perinatal Networks and some Newborn Networks, but they are all distinctly similar in their goals and aims. (Development of Welsh and Scottish networks takes the number of networks  to a total of approximately 27 across the UK). 

Networks were developed as a result of recommendations from the Department of Health's "National Strategy for Improvement" 2003. The NAO review of the network in 2007 concluded that the development of networks had led to improvements in co-ordination and consistency of services.

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.

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.

Neonatal care may be categorised into patterns of care dependent upon the need for nursing and medical support.

The publication of the 'Toolkit For High Quality Neonatal Services' in 2009 recommended new descriptions of the levels of care and types of neonatal units that reflect better the activity that takes place in the unit .

There are three types of unit:

Special Care Units (SCU)  Previously a 'Level 1 unit'.

SCU’s provide special care for their own local population. Depending on arrangements within their neonatal network, they may also provide some high dependency services. In addition, Special Care Units provide a stabilisation facility for babies who need to be transferred to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for intensive or high dependency care and receive transfers from other network units for continuing special care.

Local Neonatal Units (LNU)  Previously a 'Level 2 unit'  

LNU’s provide neonatal care for their own catchment population, except for the sickest babies. They provide all categories of neonatal care, but they transfer babies who require complex or longer-term intensive care to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as they are not staffed to provide longer-term intensive care. The majority of babies over 27 weeks of gestation will usually receive their full care, including short periods of intensive care, within their Local Neonatal Unit. Some networks have agreed variations on this policy, due to local requirements. Some Local Neonatal Units provide high dependency care and short periods of intensive care for their network population. Local Neonatal Units may receive transfers from other neonatal services in the network if they fall within their agreed work pattern.

Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU)  Previously a 'Level 3 unit'

NICU’s are sited alongside specialist obstetric and feto-maternal medicine services, and provide the whole range of medical neonatal care for their local population, along with additional care for babies and their families referred from the neonatal network. Many Neonatal Intensive Care Units in England also provide neonatal surgery services and other more specialised treatment. Within a Network, at least one hospital will have Neonatal Intensive Care unit , offering a specialist centre of expertise and experience for the sickest infants. The NICU unit will work closely with the other Network LNU and HDU units.