Perinatal regionalisation in the UK: An international perspective

摘要

Extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGANs) are probably the most vulnerable of all patient groups. Caring for these infants requires specialised services with a good infrastructure, dedication of the entire team and experience. Numerous studies have shown that perinatal outcomes are better in large centres providing the highest level of care compared to smaller ones or those working in a less experienced or lower level setting.1 Nonetheless, drawing practical conclusions from these data, namely to rigorously centralise perinatal care, meets resistance, in the UK and abroad. Or how else can the recent findings by Marlow et al, reported in this issue, be explained?