An intermediate care nursery at Christchurch Women's Hospital: the first year

Following the Sheldon report (UK 1971) the proportion of newborn infants admitted to neonatal units in England and Wales rose to 20% of live births. Admission policies in Christchurch have followed Sheldon's recommendations and by 1981, 37% of all infants born in Christchurch Women's Hospital were admitted to the neonatal unit. Admission criteria were reviewed in 1982 with the result that most infants with a birth weight greater than 2.5 kg are no longer admitted to the unit. In addition an intermediate nursery was opened to admit healthy but low birth weight (1.8 to 2.5 kg) infants together with their mothers. In 1983 only 9.7% of inborn infants were admitted to the neonatal unit. Data relating to the operation of the intermediate nursery are presented.