Press release: NHS Confederation responds to National Audit Office neonatal care report

19 Dec 2007

Commenting on the report, Jo Webber, Deputy Policy Director of the NHS Confederation which represents over 95 per cent of NHS organisations, said:

"We accept the findings of this report and recognise that, although progress has been made, a great deal more has to be done in order to deliver services that are capable of meeting every time the needs of ever greater numbers of vulnerable babies.

"This is a complex field of care. We know that the network model is the most effective way of planning for neonatal services but that issues remain about having the right number of cots at the right level with the appropriate transport systems. The best services have made it work through proper co-ordination and genuine partnership working.

"We are keen to see this best practice spread as quickly as possible. However, there are still issues about ensuring that the right skills are available within the nursing workforce and responding to this is something that is still likely to require long term workforce planning."

Notes for editors

The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

Contact details

Contact Niall Smith 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309, Ruth Kennedy 020 7074 3312 or 07884 47 3086, or Ruby Casey-Knight 020 7074 3306 or 07881 957305. For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.

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