Improvements to neonatal services are being threatened by staff shortages, a report has said.
The National Audit Office report found a number of improvements to services since the Department of Health reorganised neonatal care into networks in 2003.
But it also discovered on average each unit has nearly three nursing vacancies, and only half of units meet standards of care of one nurse to two babies. Less than one quarter of units met intensive care standards of one nurse to one baby.
The report also found the right type of cots were not always available, resulting in units having to close to new admissions and babies occasionally being cared for in the wrong place.
Transport was highlighted as an issue, with a lack of widespread specialist 24-hour transport among networks.
In conclusion, the audit office said reorganising care into neonatal networks has improved co-ordination and efficiency of services, but staffing problems persist.
Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, said: "Efforts made by the Department of Health to improve services to date are encouraging, but there is still more to do.
"Top of the list must be addressing the staffing and capacity problems."
NAO report
But it also discovered on average each unit has nearly three nursing vacancies, and only half of units meet standards of care of one nurse to two babies. Less than one quarter of units met intensive care standards of one nurse to one baby.
The report also found the right type of cots were not always available, resulting in units having to close to new admissions and babies occasionally being cared for in the wrong place.
Transport was highlighted as an issue, with a lack of widespread specialist 24-hour transport among networks.
In conclusion, the audit office said reorganising care into neonatal networks has improved co-ordination and efficiency of services, but staffing problems persist.
Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, said: "Efforts made by the Department of Health to improve services to date are encouraging, but there is still more to do.
"Top of the list must be addressing the staffing and capacity problems."
NAO report
