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2nd June2005 Crisis in maternity care according to baby charity Bliss Thousands of sick and premature babies' lives are being put at risk because they are being shunted around the UK in search of intensive care cots. An investigation by premature baby charity Bliss has revealed that severe shortages of specialist nurses and underfunding have contributed to a rise in the number of babies being transferred between hospitals. It is believed that at least 100 heavily-pregnant women or their newborns are affected each week. Each year, approximately 20,000 babies are born premature, between 23 and 28 weeks, needing intensive care facilities. And the figure keeps rising. Bliss stated that 'The lack of nurses is at crisis point' and that the NHS is struggling to recruit and retain specialist staff. The knock-on effect is that growing numbers of mothers are being moved either hours before giving birth or babies are being transferred soon afterwards. The survey found that, on average, a mother had to undergo a 120-mile round trip just to see her baby. The charity suggests that improvements in neonatal intensive care have stopped since two years ago, when the health secretary at the time, Alan Milburn, announced a £72 million drive for the NHS. According to Bliss, some primary care trusts have spent their allocated money on other debt-ridden services. Almost half of it has yet to be allocated. Rob Williams, chief executive of Bliss, said: "Mothers face the appalling prospect of knowing they are going to have their babies prematurely but there might not be care available for the baby." Where to next?
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