Background

The Neonatal Survey (formerly Trent Neonatal Survey) is an ongoing study of neonatal intensive care activity. Data collection started in February 1990 in the former Trent Health Region (Leicestershire & Rutland, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire). In 1997 South Humberside joined the study and from the beginning of 2004 data collection started in Northamptonshire.

Data provided by The Neonatal Survey include clinical information on the infants, measures of NIC provision (e.g. intensive care use, length of stay, use of surfactant and steroids) and outcomes (e.g. survival, chronic lung disease, ROP, neonatal encephalopathy).

Aims

The aims of the study are to:

• underpin clinical governance in relation to neonatal intensive care (NIC) services
• facilitate the planning of the future strategy and development of NIC services
• provide a research infrastructure for NIC
• provide education for professionals involved in NIC

Funding

The Neonatal Survey is one of The Infant Mortality and Morbidity Studies, which are funded by the PCTs of the East Midlands and Yorkshire.

Personnel

The Neonatal Survey is led by David Field and Elizabeth Draper.

Local research team

Elizabeth Draper, Julie Faulkes, David Field, Helen Holden, Bradley Manktelow, Martin Perkins

Neonatal research nurses

Hayley Abernethy, Andrea Firth, Bernadette Hargreaves, Claire Inglis, Karen Lynch, Gill Mellors, Vanessa Routh, Maria Sharpe,  Joy Yates

Collaborators

Sam Oddie (Bradford Royal Infirmary)

Publications

In addition to an Annual Report, data from The Neonatal Survey are used in clinical research projects as well as to explore variations in outcomes and practice between units and districts and to generate hypotheses for further research.