Demand for regional level III neonatal services is not reduced during national COVID lockdowns

I Kenney; N Maalouf; G Adams; K Grayson; N Brown; C N Howarth; N Aladangady; P F Fleming

doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105491

Demand for regional level III neonatal services is not reduced during national COVID lockdowns

Early Hum Dev. 2021 Dec:163:105491. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105491. Epub 2021 Oct 20.

Authors

I Kenney¹, N Maalouf², G Adams³, K Grayson¹, N Brown¹, C N Howarth⁴, N Aladangady⁴, P F Fleming⁵

Affiliations

¹ Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London E9 6SR, UK.
² University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
³ Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London E9 6SR, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK.
⁴ Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London E9 6SR, UK; Department of Genomics and Child Health, Queen Mary University of London, E1 2AT, UK.
⁵ Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London E9 6SR, UK; Department of Genomics and Child Health, Queen Mary University of London, E1 2AT, UK. Electronic address: paulfleming1@nhs.net.

Abstract

Following the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports from around the world suggested a reduction in preterm deliveries during lockdown periods. We reviewed preterm admissions to a large tertiary neonatal unit in inner North East London during two United Kingdom (UK) national lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. We found no evidence of difference in admissions during two national lockdowns compared to previous years. Based on these findings, we recommend that neonatal services remain as vigilant and prepared as ever for the unpredictable nature of preterm birth, and their staff protected to provide this highly specialist care.

Keywords: Preterm; SARS-CoV-2.

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Communicable Disease Control*
Health Services Needs and Demand / statistics & numerical data*
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care, Neonatal / statistics & numerical data*
Pandemics
Premature Birth