Neonatal transport services in the United Kingdom have developed over the past 25 years largely in response to local needs, and because of the efforts of individual enthusiasts. The result has been a disparate service often, but not exclusively, provided by larger neonatal units, and usually, without specific funding. Many other countries have taken a different approach, relying on dedicated transport services to carry out all transfers. However, the geography of the United Kingdom, with relatively short distances between hospitals, meant that it was feasible, on the whole, for individual units to offer this service without too much disruption to their daily work.2 In only a minority of areas (such as the Northern Region of England and the West coast of Scotland) has a more structured service emerged with a small number of hospitals taking on responsibility for all neonatal transfers.

Studies which have examined these different approaches have proved hard to interpret.2-5 Providing matched control groups or carrying out randomised controlled trials in this type of intervention is, of course, extremely difficult and ultimately outcome also depends, to a large extent, on the centre receiving the baby.6 7

The limited market for neonatal transport equipment has resulted in a restricted choice of specialist items and a long lead time for manufacturer modifications. Many tertiary …