Why is my baby being transferred to a different hospital?
There are a few reasons why your baby may be transferred. A health professional should explain why your baby is being moved.
Here are some common reasons:
- If they need specialist care, equipment or surgery that is provided at a different hospital.
- If your baby’s health is improving and they no longer need higher levels of care. At this stage they might be moved closer to home. This allows another baby to have access to the care your baby received when they were unwell.
- To be moved to a unit closer to home if they no longer need specialist treatment at a unit further away.
- Sometimes a unit becomes full. It may not have enough cots or staff to care for another baby. In this case your baby may need to be cared for at a different hospital.
- For an appointment with a specialist doctor.
If your baby needs an operation they will need to go to a hospital that has a surgical centre. When the operation is over your baby will be moved back to the neonatal unit depending on their condition.
They will only be transferred when the neonatal team feel they are well enough for the journey. Sometimes, they might not return to a neonatal unit and could be cared for on a paediatric unit closer to where they had their operation.