NHS Insights Prioritisation Programme Early supported transfer home
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of neonatal early supported transfer home of late preterm infants in North West England: NHS Insights Prioritisation Programme
IRAS ID
319126
Contact name
Gill Thomson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ethics, Integrity and Governance Unit FB033
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
22/NE/0236,
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 2 days
Research summary
Late pre-term infants (LPIs) are babies born between 34–36+6 weeks of gestational age (Karnati et al 2020). Around 12% of all births occur before 37 weeks of gestation and despite advancements in neonatal care, LPIs are at a greater risk of morbidity and mortality than full term infants. The care of sick and/or premature (<37 weeks' gestation) infants is provided in hospitals in specially designed neonatal units. This means that a baby who needs the most complex care can be transferred outside of the geographical area where they reside. Parents may not only experience the trauma of their infant being born severely unwell, but they can be miles apart from their newborn infant for many weeks or months. Levels of distress/stress could become more apparent if the mother is in a different hospital and cannot travel to see their baby. Furthermore, health inequalities such as limited finances could also have an impact, as travel costs may make it difficult for parents to visit their infant. Discharging preterm infants home earlier with adequate follow-up from experienced neonatal nurses is an intervention that is considered to be safe and beneficial to parents and infants. This project will evaluate the existing neonatal outreach models across the North West of England and use the evidence to develop a best practice toolkit that is equitable and inclusive with guidance for regional adoption.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NE/0238
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jan 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion