Benchmarking comparison survey of regional neonatal units.

There are currently eight regional neonatal units in Ireland; three in Dublin and one each in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Drogheda and Waterford. Previous studies have shown a significant variation in the provision of care and services between such units. In July 2005, a postal questionnaire was distributed to a focus group of staff in the eight regional units. The objective was to identify issues of significant concern in current neonatology practice in Ireland. Eighteen people were surveyed in this focus group and we had an overall response rate of almost 78%. All of the respondents felt that there was a difference between practises in the neonatal units and greater than 90% perceived these to be significant. We believe that this study has identified the desire for standardisation of neonatology practises in Ireland and that this may be achieved by the introduction of a Nationwide Newborn Network.