National neonatal demand and capacity modelling
Research type
Research Study
Full title
HS&DR Project: 14/19/08 - NeoNet: The right cot, at the right time, at the right place 2. Providing a national demand/capacity model for neonatal care in England.
IRAS ID
172210
Contact name
Martin Pitt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
The aim of this proposed research is to understand neonatal care demand and current capacity in England. Using computer simulation we will then investigate alternative configurations of service that best meet the needs of both service providers and parents. Anonymised historic data is used to build a computer simulation model that incorporates location of mothers of infants needing neonatal care and the potential locations of neonatal care (with units designated to 4-5 different levels according to their ability care for different levels of needs of infants). Key outputs of the model are the numbers of infants (including day-to-day variability) at each care level in the units, the number and distances of inter-hospital neonatal transfers, the frequency of closure of units to new admissions (due to capacity problems), and the distances infants are from the mother’s home location.
The data required for this model is the duration of stay at each care level for all infants accessing neonatal care in England over two years. The home location of mothers will be at the level of Lower Super Output Area (there are ~1,500 people in each these areas).
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0503
Date of REC Opinion
10 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion