Oral QuestionDepartment of Health and Social Care

If he will take steps to help increase the number of accommodation units available for parents whose babies have been admitted to neonatal care units.

Tabled: 17 July 2024Answered: 23 July 2024

Asked by

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

LabourClapham and Brixton Hill

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Answer from Hansard

The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)

I congratulate my hon. Friend on her re-election and thank her for raising this important issue. It is not right that three out of four parents are not able to stay with their critically ill baby overnight at such an important point in that new relationship. NHS England recently concluded a review of neonatal estates. It is in the early stages of analysing the findings, which will be used to inform the next steps. We are all determined to support parents to be involved in every aspect of their baby’s care.