PREM 7+

PREM7+ is the South East region’s perinatal optimisation care bundle which was launched originally as PREM7 in 2022. The care bundle was developed in 2023 with the addition of further elements; volume targeted ventilation and caffeine, to further enhance and optimise the outcomes of babies born in the SE. Based on best practice the seven interventions can have a significant and positive impact on reducing brain injury and mortality rates amongst babies born prematurely. These interventions are based on the British Association of Perinatal Medicine best practice toolkits.

All Trusts in the South East will be working together with the aim to ensure that this optimal care can be provided. Support to enable improvements to meet this aim is being provided by the South East Maternity Regional Team, KSS, Wessex and Oxford Patient Safety Collaboratives (PSCs), and KSS and Thames Valley and Wessex Neonatal Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs).

Patient Safety Collaboratives are part of HIN (Health innovation network). Patient Safety Collaborative teams support quality improvement in a wide range of areas of patient safety – one of which is the national Maternal and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme (MatNeoSIP). One of the aims of the MatNeoSIP is the support of the 7 preterm optimisation interventions.

Neonatal care for premature and sick babies is organised into geographical areas around the country where hospitals work together and are called neonatal operational delivery networks (ODNs). The networks allow doctors and nurses to share knowledge and skills and they help to ensure that the different levels of care are accessible for all babies.

For more information on PREM 7+ please contact: england.sematernity@nhs.net or visit Neonatal Network South East, the shared website for both the Thames Valley and Wessex ODN and the Kent, Surrey and Sussex ODN.

The map below shows the neonatal special care and local neonatal units in the South East: