AIREDALE Hospital is seeking to make permanent changes to its neonatal service which has seen premature babies delivered in Bradford instead.

Due to low staffing levels, the Steeton hospital began operating as a special care unit instead of a local neonatal unit in 2020.

This has led to around 24 families a year being transferred to a neighbouring hospital, mostly in Bradford, for delivery of their premature baby.

Neonatal units provide care for babies born before 37 weeks gestation, with a medical condition which needs treatment, or at a low birth weight.

According to a North Yorkshire Council report, staffing levels have “improved significantly” at the hospital but the trust has asked NHS England to make the change permanent.

It's also seeking the views of councillors.

The report says that if Airedale’s local neonatal unit was to continue, it would not meet the clinical standards on volume of activity required to look after high dependency babies.

It adds there is “good evidence” that busier units have better outcomes for families.

Although Airedale will no longer provide high dependency care for babies between 26-31 weeks gestation, if required the unit will still provide “initial and short-term care” for these babies in limited circumstances.

Currently all premature babies born from 22 to 27 weeks gestation are cared for in neonatal intensive care units at Bradford, Hull, Leeds or Sheffield.

The report said: “Ultimately, this change will ensure the highest quality of care for premature babies across the region. Although the impact is small in terms of numbers, the impact on patient experience will continue to be monitored closely.”

Amanda Stanford, chief nurse at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, says: “Every baby deserves the best possible start in life, and for premature babies this is particularly important.

“All premature babies born from 22 to 27 weeks gestation are currently cared for in neonatal intensive care units at Bradford, Hull, Leeds or Sheffield. This means families from across the region, including Airedale, already travel for this highly specialist care.

“Babies born between 27 to 31 weeks will be transferred to the neonatal unit at Bradford for neonatal intensive care. Special care baby unit facilities will remain at Airedale to provide ongoing care for babies born over 31 weeks, unless they require specialist medical care.

“Ultimately this is about ensuring that premature babies born to local parents will continue to get the highest quality of care.”