Categories of Care

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 .

 Intensive care (IC)  (formerly know as Level 3 care).

Care provided for babies with the most complex problems who require constant supervision and monitoring and, usually, mechanical ventilation. Due to the possibility of acute deterioration, a specialist doctor should always be available. Extremely immature infants all require intensive care and monitoring over the first weeks, but the range of intensive care work extends throughout the whole gestation period.

High dependency care (HDC)  (formerly known as Level 2 care) 

Care provided in a neonatal unit and involves care for babies who need continuous monitoring, for example those who weigh less than 1,000g (2lbs, 3oz), or are receiving help with their breathing via continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or intravenous feeding, but who do not fulfil any of the requirements for intensive care.

Special care (SC)  (formerly known as Level 1 care)

Care provided for babies who could not reasonably be looked after at home by their mother. Babies receiving special care may need to have their breathing and heart rate monitored, be fed through a tube, supplied with extra oxygen or treated for jaundice; this category also includes babies who are convalescing from more specialist treatment before they can be discharged. Special care which occurs alongside the mother is often called ’transitional care‘ but takes place outside a neonatal unit, in a ward setting.

For more information the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM)  have published documents relating to categories of care, please click on the following links to view the documents and BAPM website.

To access the BAPM website please click here.

Categories of Care August 2011 

SERVICE STANDARDS FOR HOSPITALS PROVIDING NEONATAL CARE (3rd edition) August 2010.