Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all mothers who give birth to a premature baby receive the necessary psychological support.

As set out in NHS England’s NHS Standard Contract for Neonatal Critical Care each unit must deliver a family-centred care approach, with sufficient emotional and practical support for parents and families, enabling them to make informed choices and play an active part in their babies' care.

Delivering care in a family-centred way helps minimise the physical and psychological impact of neonatal care on the baby and their family, for example by improving psychological outcomes.

Family centred care puts the physical, psychological and social needs of both the baby and their family at the heart of all care given. The Department awarded Bliss, the National charity for the Newborn, a grant for Family Centred Care: A Guide for Parents project, which aims to improve parents’ experience of neonatal care and help them to establish their role as parents.