We welcome the publication of the NHSE Maternity and Neonatal infrastructure review or estates audit which has just been published (see link below). This review was established in 2023 as part of the Three year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services. NHS England committed to undertaking a comprehensive infrastructure review (survey) of the estate that enables maternity and neonatal service delivery across the NHS in England.
The review highlights problems with inadequate space, lack of storage facilities, insufficient rest areas and poorly maintained physical infrastructure. It also highlights the lack of bereavement space in some units. We are disappointed at the lack of detail in the report about neonatal capacity and in particular the lack of detail about parental accommodation which we know is a significant problem in many units. NHSE state that they will support the allocation of capital to solve some of these problems but the mechanism and source for this funding is not yet clear.
We look forward to working together with NHSE to try to ensure that further details of the survey are released so that Trusts can make plans to improve their maternity and neonatal facilities.
