The report recommends SPSP’s quality improvement (QI) methodologies and it signposts readers who are looking to improve the clinical care of preterm babies in the following areas:

• administration of antenatal steroids,
• magnesium sulphate,
• avoiding hypothermia and
• birth in an appropriate neonatal unit.

These are all part of the MCQIC Preterm Perinatal Wellbeing Package which was introduced in 2018 and promotes collaborative improvement working between neonatal and maternity services.

The NNAP reports on key measures of the care provided to babies in neonatal services in England, Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man.

The MCQIC programme is aligned to many of the measures in NNAP with Scottish neonatal units using QI methodology to improve patient care.

Strong Scottish performance in measures such as avoiding hypothermia in preterm babies is a testament to the work being carried out around the country. Work on developing a package of measures aiming to reduce the incidence of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia which is a respiratory condition, is nearing completion and the release of NNAP data provides an opportunity to understand where lessons can be learned and improvements made. 

NNAP intends to introduce a measure of deferred cord clamping in very preterm babies in 2020 – this has been part of the MCQIC programme since 2018.

Dr Colin Peters, MCQIC neonatal clinical lead and NNAP Programme Board member said:

“The NNAP report has highlighted the work that is currently being done by the MCQIC programme as we support all neonatal and maternity units in Scotland to improve the care of babies. The report highlights that there is more work to be done, therefore measures in development - such as those to reduce Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia - will be important.” 

Read more about the National Neonatal Audit Programme 2019 Annual report on 2018 data.