Northern Neonatal Network

Welcome to the Northern Neonatal Network

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News: Northern Neonatal Network - 2nd Annual Report available now. Click here to download a copy

Welcome to the website of the Northern Neonatal Network. The website provides information about the Network and the 12 neonatal units within it.

The Northern Neonatal Network is one of the 22 Managed Clinical Networks (now designated as "Operational Delivery Networks" in the new NHS structures) for neonatal care in England. It was brought together as a formal group following recommendations from the Department of Health to ensure babies and their families’ receive the highest quality of care.

The Network is governed by a Board, made up of representatives from each of the Trusts within it and other health care professionals, as well as parent representatives. To see the current Board structure and the Terms of Reference that it currently operates under, click here.

The Northern Neonatal Network aims are:

• To provide a safe, high quality service for special neonatal care workloads across the network region, and seek to improve outcomes for all babies born and cared for within it

• To maintain a framework for demonstrating the attainment of minimum quality standards, the implementation of continuous quality improvement, and adequate risk management in special and intensive neonatal care across the region

• In collaboration with the Region's Specialist Commissioners at the NHSCB (NHS Commissioning Board), to agree the appropriate allocation of capital and revenue for neonatal care across the Network.

Geography

The Northern Neonatal Network is the largest of the 22 networks in England in terms of geographical area covered. It stretches from the borders of Cumbria and Northumberland into North Yorkshire as far south as Northallerton. There are a total of 12 units within the Network. Four of these are designated as Level 3 or Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU), and eight are designated as Level 1 or Special Care Baby Units (SCBUs). The twelve units working collaboratively with the Network cater for a population of 3 million people and an annual birth rate of approximately 35,000. It covers all Local Authorities in North East and North Cumbria and care is provided on 12 sites by nine different NHS Foundation/ Acute Hospital Trusts.