Optimising neonatal service provision for preterm babies (27-31 weeks)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
OPTIPREM: Optimising neonatal service provision for preterm babies born between 27 and 31 weeks of gestation in England using national data, qualitative research and economic analysis.
IRAS ID
212034
Contact name
T Pillay
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NCT02994849, Clinicaltrialsgov; 33299, ISRCTN
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
New evidence shows that for babies born at 23-26 weeks, care in one of two types of neonatal units, i.e a Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU) as opposed to a Local Neonatal Unit (LNU) improves survival to discharge: this is informing policy that shapes their services. In contrast, there is no evidence to guide location of care for the next most vulnerable group (born between 27-31 weeks) whose care is currently spread between 45 NICU and 84 LNU in England. This group accounts for 4 times more neonatal unit admissions than those born at 23-26 weeks, and 12% of all preterm births in England. They utilise twice as many NHS bed days/year compared to those born at 23-26 weeks, and over a third of all neonatal unit care days.
Our primary objective is to assess, for babies born at 27-31 weeks and admitted to a neonatal unit, whether care in a NICU vs a LNU impacts on survival and key morbidities (to age 1 year), at each gestational age in weeks. This will be achieved through analysis of routinely recorded data extracted from real-time, point-of-care patient management systems and held in the National Neonatal Research Database (NNRD),Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and Office for National Statistics (ONS)for admissions over the period 01/01/14-31/12/17 in England.
Secondary objectives are whether differences in clinical care exist between LNU and NICU, and whether these are associated with gestation-specific differences in outcomes; where it is most cost-effective to provide care; and parents’ and clinicians' perspectives on place of care, and how these can guide clinical decision-making.
The information will be used to develop recommendations, in collaboration with national bodies, to inform clinical practice, commissioning and policy making.http://www.royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk/research-and-development/opti-prem-improving-neonatal-service-delivery/
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NE/0080
Date of REC Opinion
17 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion