Posted by Roberta Shanks - 17/12/2019
2019 has been a significant year for the Scottish neonatal community with the creation of a single national neonatal network. The new national network aims to build on the good work of the three previous regional neonatal networks, to support the development of new models of care to improve care for babies and their families across Scotland.
An important part of our work in 2019 was engaging with the neonatal community across Scotland. Through a series of local visits to neonatal units across Scotland, meetings with patient organisations and other stakeholders, we developed key priorities for the network to address which will inform the network’s programme of work over the next few years.
As Lead Clinician I am proud of what has been achieved this year. In November we launched a neonatal discharge planning and follow-up framework for Scotland, which benefitted from input from a broad range of stakeholders and provided an example of what can be achieved through collaborative working.
2019 also saw the first Clinical Forum meeting to provide a space for learning about new developments and exchanging ideas about where we need to focus our energies as a network in the coming months and years. We anticipate that we will hold Clinical Forum meetings at least twice a year in future.
2020 is anticipated to be a busy year for the neonatal network with a wide range of new work starting on the key strategic priorities for neonatal services in Scotland. Pathway development will be one of these priorities. Work has already started on pathways for end of life care and on how we manage cot capacity and neonatal transfers. A national capacity management tool and universal use of the BadgerNET cot locator will underpin this development. The national network will closely collaborate with the new national maternity network to ensure that together we are able to improve care for mothers, babies and their families across the entire perinatal journey.
I look forward to working with colleagues across Scotland to realise the aims and objectives for the neonatal network in 2020.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a great New Year.
Dr Lesley Jackson, Clinical Lead National Neonatal Network