Effect of a centralised transfer service on characteristics of inter-hospital neonatal transfers

Objective: To determine the effect of a centralised neonatal transfer service on numbers of neonatal transfers and the time taken for teams to reach the baby. Design: Prospective census of neonatal inter-hospital transfers between May and July 2004. Comparison with a previous census transfer to the regional emergency bed service. Setting: Geographically defined area in London and southeast England. Patients: Babies transferred to or from a neonatal unit. Interventions: Introduction of a centralised neonatal transfer service. Main outcome measures: Numbers of transfers, time taken for teams to arrive to the baby (response time). Results: During the census there were 835 transfers with an increase of 34% from the previous census (n = 619). Most of the increase was in urgent transfers for neonatal intensive care. There was a mean of 4.4 urgent transfers a day, with 3.9 elective and 0.8 short-term transfers. Over the same period in-utero transfers decreased. Response times improved from a median of 2 h in 2001 to 1.45 h in 2004 (p < 0.05). The 90th centile fell from 6 h to 4.9 h. Conclusion: Following the introduction of a centralised neonatal transfer service, response times improved significantly. An increase in the numbers of transfers for medical intensive care was associated with a reduced number of in-utero transfers. To balance the improved safety and accessibility of neonatal transfer, similar developments may be needed to facilitate in-utero transfer.