FAcilitating Safe Transition to Home for Preterm Infants: an Observational Study

Finding out what the common discharge barriers are in our neonatal units will help us design and development services to facilitate safe, early discharge in preterm babies. This study will have 2 components. Retrospectively we will study the electronic medical records of preterm infants admitted to 20 neonatal units throughout the UK to identify the PMA at which each of the barriers to discharge are reached and identify the final discharge barrier. In a smaller-scale prospective study we will investigate what is the final discharge barrier for infants admitted for neonatal care in the Royal Derby Hospital. We will follow up with the family, 2 weeks after discharge home, to find out if the infant has remained well and not required readmission to the hospital (information which will not be available in the electronic patient records analysed retrospectively). This will help us determine whether the discharge was appropriate and safe.

Inclusion Criteria:Born at <37 weeks' gestational age (GA)Admitted to neonatal care for >48 hoursDischarged home aliveFor prospective component: Parent or legal guardian available who can give informed consent -Exclusion Criteria:Infants with major congenital anomalies or genetic syndromesInfants who die before discharge homeInfants who are transferred for continuing care outside of neonatal service before discharge home-