Neonatal telephone consultations in the National Maternity Hospital

Details of telephone consultations concerning infants were recorded prospectively over a two month period in the National Maternity Hospital (NMH). There were one hundred and forty-six calls recorded. One hundred and sixteen (79.5%) calls were from mothers. The average age of the infants was twenty-eight days. Eighty (54.8%) calls were answered by Nursing Staff while the remainder were taken by Doctors. There were thirty-nine (26.7%) calls relating to the gastrointestinal system. There were twenty-seven (18.5%) calls regarding infants with respiratory concerns. The next most common problem was irritability followed by calls concerning jaundice, rashes and umbilical issues. Fifty-five (37.7%) callers were given home care advice or reassurance. Thirty-six (24.7%) were advised to attend a Paediatric Emergency Department (ED). GP visits and Baby Clinic appointments were advised for twenty-four (16.4%) and twenty-three (15.8%) infants respectively while six (4.1%) of the callers were directed to attend NMH immediately.