Response to BAPM's call for Neonatal Safety Champion

The Secretary of State for Patient Safety and Primary Care, Maria Caulfield, has responded to a letter from BAPM, supported by 16 other organisations, calling for the Government to appoint a Neonatal Safety Champion.

BAPM's letter, originally sent to Ms Caulfield's predecessor Nadine Dorries, stated that: "BAPM was delighted to review the updated Maternity and Neonatal Safety Champions toolkit published in February 2021, and we are fully supportive of NHS England Safety Champions, Dr Matthew Jolly (Obstetrics) and Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent (Midwifery). We are however, very disappointed that while this programme was renamed in 2020 to the Maternity and Neonatal Safety Programme there is not a named National Neonatal Safety Champion."

In her response, Ms Caulfield writes: "I have asked officials to look into the processes required for appointing a National Neonatal Safety Champion who would work alongside the Obstetrics and Midwifery Maternity Safety Champions as soon as is practicable."

BAPM welcomes this news and hopes that a neonatal specialist will be appointed as Safety Champion to enhance the work of Dr Jolly and Professor Dunkley-Bent. This would undoubtedly help to improve outcomes for babies and their families.