Royal Surrey Neonatal Services Rated Best in Surrey, Sussex and South West London

The latest Surrey, Sussex and South West London Regional Audit has identified the Royal Surrey County Hospital as having the lowest crude and standardised fetal and neonatal death rates in the region. The Royal Surrey has also been confirmed as having the lowest admission rates of babies into the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) in the whole area. 

Dr Charles Godden, Neonatal Lead and Paediatric Consultant at the Royal Surrey, said: 

“This is a fantastic result for the Royal Surrey and is largely due to a combination of excellent care in both the Maternity and Newborn services.   

“Although we benefit from having a relatively healthy population, the fact that we have not only the lowest percentage of baby deaths but also the lowest percentage of babies needing care on SCBU, even when the result is standardised, means we are doing very well for mothers, fathers and their babies.  

“This is an incredible achievement for the Royal Surrey staff and the local neonatal network who, every day of the year, care for pregnant women and their newborn babies.” 

In 2011/12 the Royal Surrey had 3383 deliveries, of whom only 7.5% required admission to SCBU. Since this audit the Royal Surrey has opened a Transitional Care Unit for babies who need a little bit of extra care but do not need to be admitted onto SCBU. This new development is improving care by helping newborn babies stay closer to their parents and may help reduce admissions to SCBU even further.