What is a Neonatal Network?
A Network consists of hospitals with differing types of neonatal units. The purpose of each network is to ensure, with only a limited number of exceptions, that mothers and babies receive their care within the Network or very occasionally, within an adjacent Network. Mothers should receive care as near to home as possible and to know in advance should a problem arise with their baby where and how care will be provided. They should offer families the greatest opportunity for local birth and also minimize transfers for intensive care to those which are necessary. For babies transferred for longer term intensive care, Networks would facilitate early return to a local hospital. Each Neonatal Unit within the Network has been designated to provide different levels of care i.e. some units would only provide special care (level 1), most would provide high dependency and limited intensive care (level 2) and some the full range of intensive care (level 3).
