Abstract

This paper considers some of the changes in practice that have occurred in the last 5 years. There have been significant improvements in parental involvement in care. Not all changes have been based on evidence from research: practice has also been affected by changing technology and pressure by industry and other groups. Among the research-based changes were: an awareness of confidentiality, individualised developmental care, increased use of inhaled nitric oxide, therapeutic hypothermia, less postnatal steroids (although the dosage used is not evidence-based), sucrose as analgesia and permissive hypotension.