SPECIAL CARE BABIES

Early day motion 588, tabled 13 July 2005 by Laura Moffatt (Labour). Signed by 162 members.

That this House notes that one in eight babies born every year needs some level of special care and that around 17,000 babies will need intensive care; pays tribute to all medical and nursing staff who work tirelessly to care for these babies; recognises that having a baby in a special care unit can be an extremely stressful experience for parents; welcomes the BLISS Baby Charter which outlines the standard of care which should be aspired to for special care babies; expresses concern that the BLISS report, Special Care For Sick Babies - Choice Or Chance, shows over 70 per cent. of neonatal units surveyed have been closed to new admissions in the last six months and that babies continue to be unnecessarily transferred long distances because of a shortage of staffed cots; and calls upon the Government to do more to help sick and premature babies.

Signatures by party: Labour 66, Conservative 59, Liberal Democrat 25, DUP 6, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Respect 1.