Neonatal care
Neonatal care
Author
Introduction
Key neonatal outcomes for premature babies vary widely across neonatal services in the UK, with some regions experiencing significantly higher mortality rates than others. Various NHS initiatives have highlighted the need to improve neonatal care so that it is offered to the same excellent standard in every region, but guidance has been challenging to implement. Practical support and resources vary between networks, and a regional approach has led to duplication of effort.
2022 Award
Chantelle Tomlinson (CF 2018) is a Consultant Neonatologist with specific training in Quality Improvement (QI). Using learnings from her Fellowship, she has begun to develop a programme called EQuliP, aimed at achieving excellence in neonatal care through coordinated QI. EQuliP seeks to provide comprehensive resources, training and practical support to neonatal units, through a co-ordinated and centralised QI strategy that allows different regions to share insights and address the specific challenges in their area rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Chantelle has been awarded one of our Activate grants to pilot EQuliP in the East Midlands Neonatal Operational Delivery Network and develop a comprehensive QI strategy for the 11 neonatal units in that region. The funding will enable Chantelle to form a network of experts and people with lived experience of neonatal care, including parents, to work together to share insight; gather real-time data across the region through a centralised online portal; deliver targeted quality improvement training to key personnel in all neonatal units; and recruit a dedicated nurse to offer practical face to face and virtual support for improvement activities to all neonatal units. Chantelle’s team will analyse the data and evaluate feedback from those involved in the pilot, to inform a proposal with the aim of creating a national pilot for the programme.
Chantelle hopes that the development of this unified and collaborative approach will extend to all neonatal units in the country, leading to consistent neonatal service delivery and quality of care as well as improved mortality rates.
Chantelle’s Fellowship explored ways to improve outcomes for extremely pre-term babies.
2022 Award
Chantelle Tomlinson (CF 2018) is a Consultant Neonatologist with specific training in Quality Improvement (QI). Using learnings from her Fellowship, she has begun to develop a programme called EQuliP, aimed at achieving excellence in neonatal care through coordinated QI. EQuliP seeks to provide comprehensive resources, training and practical support to neonatal units, through a co-ordinated and centralised QI strategy that allows different regions to share insights and address the specific challenges in their area rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Chantelle has been awarded one of our Activate grants to pilot EQuliP in the East Midlands Neonatal Operational Delivery Network and develop a comprehensive QI strategy for the 11 neonatal units in that region. The funding will enable Chantelle to form a network of experts and people with lived experience of neonatal care, including parents, to work together to share insight; gather real-time data across the region through a centralised online portal; deliver targeted quality improvement training to key personnel in all neonatal units; and recruit a dedicated nurse to offer practical face to face and virtual support for improvement activities to all neonatal units. Chantelle’s team will analyse the data and evaluate feedback from those involved in the pilot, to inform a proposal with the aim of creating a national pilot for the programme.
Chantelle hopes that the development of this unified and collaborative approach will extend to all neonatal units in the country, leading to consistent neonatal service delivery and quality of care as well as improved mortality rates.
Chantelle’s Fellowship explored ways to improve outcomes for extremely pre-term babies.