NETS: a new system for neonatal transport

Neonatal transport in the past has often provided inadequate care for the sick neonate in transit. A new service--the Neonatal Emergency Transport Service--has been set up to improve aspects of neonatal transport. The service provides a team of sisters and doctors who travel to the referring hospital with sophisticated equipment to stabilize the infant, and to accompany the infant in transit. The team pays particular attention to temperature control and adequacy of oxygenation and ventilation. The first nine months' operations are reported, and show significant improvement in condition of the infants on admission to the intensive care unit. The natural consequence of this is the fall in mortality and morbidity of the sick and premature newborn infants. Prenatal transfer of the mother at high-risk remains the preferred form of perinatal transport.