Service Outline

The Northern Neonatal Transport Service (NNeTS) was established in 2016. Prior to this the Northern Neonatal Network had two transport teams working closely together (one based at the RVI, one at James Cook University Hospital). NNeTS has a fully staffed tier of dedicated Specialist Transport Nurses and 24-hour access to advice from a Consultant Neonatologist. The service model for acute transports is currently delivered by the Specialist Nurse Team in conjunction with doctors trained and experienced in neonatal medicine. Over the next five years, the aim is to move to a Transport (Advanced Neonatal) Nurse Practitioner-led acute service as this will be more sustainable in the future. NNeTS is hosted by the Maternity Services Directorate within Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and co-located with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Ward 35) at the RVI.

NNeTS report quarterly to the Northern Neonatal Network board and work closely with our service users to enhance and improve the experience of babies in the Northern Neonatal Network who need to move between specialist units. Our work directly supports the overall Network ethos of providing the highest quality, most appropriate care as close to home as possible.