A
report,
Baby steps to better care, published today by
Bliss, the special baby care charity, has highlighted the vulnerability of
premature babies born in the UK because of over-stretched and under-staffed neonatal staff.
The report finds that minimum staffing standards are still not being met and units are regularly having to close to new admissions due to lack of staff. This means that mothers and babies are being transferred, in some cases very long distances, putting intense strain on families at a critical time.
The UK’s leading negligence department at Leigh Day & Co welcomes the report. Sadly Leigh Day has been involved in cases where the issue of staffing levels may have been factors in the poor care of neonates and older babies. Such problems arise as to whether the date of an elective caesarian section could be influenced by staffing levels on a neonatal ward, or whether the decision to discharge a baby from a Special Care Baby Unit to the ward is reasonable.
If you would like to speak to one of our clinical negligence lawyers please contact
Anne McCrea or
Denise McAneny for a free initial advice session.
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