Intensive care cot boost following major investment

7:56am Friday 21st March 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A major three quarter of a million pound investment in neonatal services at the Royal Preston Hospital, part of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, will boost intensive care provision for new born and premature babies within Lancashire and South Cumbria.

The North West Specialised Commissioning Group has agreed the year on year funding increase of £750,000 to provide two additional intensive care cots and fund the nursing and medical staff to care for the extra admissions at Royal Preston Hospital.

The Trust currently has five intensive care cots.

Tony Curtis, Chief Executive, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are delighted by the decision to fund two additional neonatal intensive care cots at Royal Preston Hospital.

"This will ensure that more premature and poorly newborn babies can be cared for nearer to their homes, reducing the likelihood that they will be admitted to other units outside Lancashire and South Cumbria.

"Royal Preston Hospital has a first rate neonatal service and a team of experienced and dedicated staff.

"This additional investment is a ringing endorsement of their skill and commitment to duty."

Helen Mullen, Acting Modern Matron, Neonatal Unit, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This is fantastic news for the unit, but more importantly, it will benefit the babies and their parents who need our specialist care."

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of two dedicated neonatal intensive care units in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

In 2007, 399 babies were admitted to the unit which features 96 specialist staff, including doctors, nurses, neonatal nursery assistants, ward clerks and housekeepers.

It has 21 cots, with five neonatal intensive care cots plus high dependency and special care cots.

Facilities for parents include a kitchen and sitting room, two bedrooms, sibling playroom and waiting area and a special bubble room, which is a relaxation room for baby and parents.

Nearly one in ten babies born at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital or Royal Preston Hospital require specialist neonatal care.

The youngest baby admitted to the unit was 23 weeks old.