Nursery World - Premature babies missing crucial two-year check-ups

Almost half of very premature babies are not receiving vital developmental checks, figures show.

Babies born more than ten weeks early should have a routine check at age two for signs of possible complications, such as cerebral palsy, visual impairment and intellectual development delay.

Yet a neonatal audit has found no evidence for the vital check-up in 46 per cent of cases.

According to the audit, in many instances, neonatal units may not be doing this or they are failing to record the details of the two-year follow-up consultations, even when they have taken place.

The National Neonatal Audit Programme (NNAP) report warns that neonatal units are either not recording details of the check or failing to have the consultations altogether.

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