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Neonatal fund interim evaluation published |
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A fund set up to provide financial support to parents of premature and sick newborns has helped 435 families within four months of being established.
Launched on the 1st April 2018, the neonatal expenses fund is designed to help parents of premature and sick newborn babies offset travel and subsistence costs incurred during the early days of their baby's life.
A total of £59,923 was handed out to 435 different families from April to July 2018, covering costs such as meals, parking, public transport and mileage.
Information gathered from each of Scotland’s 14 health boards shows 1359 separate claims were made, 99.6% of which were approved.
‘Implementation of the scheme has largely gone smoothly’ the report states, ‘with most health boards reporting that delivery of the scheme has been simple.’
‘The low number of rejected claims indicates that parents largely understand the claims process and eligibility criteria’.
One of the gaps staff and parents highlighted were costs associated with overnight accommodation that are not currently provided for.
Provision for these costs is currently being considered out-with the neonatal expenses fund as part of the broader best start grant, a new early-years benefit being introduced by the Scottish Government.
One of Scotland’s leading neonatal charities, BIiss, published a report in 2014 that highlighted the ‘very real costs’ for parents who had a premature or sick baby requiring neonatal care, were on average, £218 a week.
In January 2017 the Scottish Government launched the five year forward plan for maternity and neonatal services. One of the key recommendations included a review of the approach to expenses for families of babies in neonatal care be carried out.
Provision across Scotland was found to be ‘varied and inconsistent’, leading to the Government announcing in December 2017 that £1.5m would be made available to create a neonatal expenses scheme.
A more detailed evaluation of the current scheme will commence in April next year, with publication of the findings expected in the autumn of 2020.
It will look to provide data analysis of claims made; a survey of NHS staff involved with the promotion and administration of the scheme; and a survey of eligible parents to gauge their experiences or awareness of the fund.
In-year Evaluation of Neonatal Expenses Fund: Improving Health and Wellbeing can be accessed here.
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