Frequently asked questions

ANTS Faqs

What does the Acute Neonatal Transport team do?
What is an Emergency retrieval?
Will I be transferred too, to be with my baby?
Can I travel with my baby in the ambulance?
What are 'emergency referrals'?
What are 'back transfers'?
I booked to have my obstetric care at Addenbrooke's but my baby is being transferred elsewhere - why is this?
Who will accompany my baby when he/she is taken back to my local hospital?

What does the Acute Neonatal Transport team do?

The dedicated transport team transports babies from one neonatal unit to another when it is necessary.

The team all have an interest in transportation and have received special training in the use of transport equipment.

They care for the baby throughout the journey and ensure smooth running of the transport.

What is an Emergency retrieval?

An emergency retrieval is when an ill baby needs to be transferred from one hospital to another requiring specialist care.

The transport team travel in their designated ambulance to 'retrieve' the baby.
The aim of the team is to get to the referring hospital as soon as possible and then stabilise the baby ready for transfer to specialised facilities.

The journey is usually rapid and safe.

The team, on arrival, formally hand over the care of the baby to the receiving unit.

Will I be transferred too, to be with my baby?

We always aim that the mother and baby are cared for in the same hospital.
Mothers who are still inpatients at the hospital where they delivered will be transferred to the hospital as soon as they are well enough and an appropriate bed is available.

Can I travel with my baby in the ambulance?

We are able to offer one parent to accompany the ANTS team on our elective service. The staff at the Hospital that your baby will be transferred from will provide you a leaflet detailing information of what to expect whilst our team are looking after your baby during the transport process.

We are unable to offer a parent to accompany the team whilst undertaking emergency transfers. This will be explained by our team on their arrival at the referring unit. At the time of the transport, the team will, however, give parents detailed directions to the unit as well as general information about the unit. Alternatively you can use our 'hospital links' to gain directions to the receiving hospital to gain more information.

What are 'emergency referrals'?

Occasionally, because of a baby's condition, it can be necessary to refer the baby from a NICU to another hospital.
These referrals are made because specific specialist care and therapies are only available at other centres.
In most cases, our transport team will take the baby to the receiving hospital but, sometimes, hospitals such as Great Ormond Street send out their own transport team to collect the baby.

What are 'back transfers'?

For practical reasons (visiting etc) it is usually best if babies are cared for close to their parents home where possible.
If a baby has transferred from another hospital, then every effort will be made to get the baby back to that hospital as soon as he/she is stable enough for transfer.
Sometimes, this can mean waiting for a cot space to become clear at your hospital.
Once your baby is transferred back, this unit will then provide the services to enable your baby to get ready for home when the time is right.

I booked to have my obstetric care at Addenbrooke's but my baby is being transferred elsewhere – why is this?

If you have booked to have your Obstetric care in your local hospital, and should your baby need care in the NICU of that hospital, this care will automatically be given there in the initial period – and hopefully for the length of the baby's stay.
However, it might be necessary to transfer your baby to another hospital for the following reasons:

Because he/she is sick and needs more help.
Because your baby is now improved and stable enough to transfer to another level of care, which enables your NICU to accept other very sick babies who need their help.

You can feel confident that whichever unit cares for your baby, they will provide excellent care.

Who will accompany my baby when he/she is taken back to my local hospital?

At the time of transfer to your local hospital, a dual clinician team consisting of a doctor/neonatal nurse practitioner and nurse will accompany your baby in the ambulance if ventilation support is required.

If your baby is stable but does not require ventilation support, your baby will be accompanied by a single clinician team.

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