The BMA has called for more neonatal care capacity in Wales, after a consultant claimed lives were being lost owing to a shortage of cots. Cardiff obs and gynae consultant, Richard Penketh, has alerted the WMC (Welsh Medical Committee), which advises the Welsh government, of a ‘neonatal cot crisis’.
According to the minutes of the meeting, Mr Penketh said his local unit had been closed more times lately than it had been open. He claimed that babies had died owing to the shortage of neonatal cots, and the issue affected the whole of Wales. His comments follow a report by the Welsh Assembly’s children and young people committee expressing ‘extreme concern’ at staffing levels in neonatal units across Wales. The committee report, published last September, expresses alarm at accounts of health boards relying on paediatricians, rather than dedicated neonatologists, to support services. BMA Welsh council chair, Phil Banfield, said: “It is important to remember that we need to build in capacity, not only for the most sick babies, but also for those needing less intensive care. Without this capacity, many women will have to travel far further than would be otherwise necessary.” A Welsh government spokesperson said it has been working with health boards over the past six months to address the pressures on the neonatal network. She said: “We are not aware of any evidence that babies have died due to a shortage of neonatal cots. Intensive care cots are freed up for the babies with the greatest needs … The Welsh government acknowledges further improvements are needed if we are to provide consistent and sustainable high-quality care.”
