Every year, around 60,000 babies in the UK are born prematurely—before 37 weeks of gestation*. They face increased risks of complications, and their families often navigate complex emotional and medical journeys.

At Health Innovation East Midlands, we’re proud to lead the Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme (MatNeoSIP) across the region. Our mission is to support healthcare staff in delivering safer, more equitable care for mothers and babies—especially those born too soon.

On World Prematurity Day, Senior Improvement Lead Kate Hardiman reflects on the importance of improving care for preterm infants and highlight the progress being made across the NHS.

Our Focus: Safety, Quality, and Equity

MatNeoSIP is part of a national programme led by NHS England. In the East Midlands, we work with maternity and neonatal units to:

• Reduce maternal and neonatal deaths, stillbirths, and brain injuries
• Lower the national rate of preterm births from 8% to 6%.
• Improve safety and outcomes by reducing unwarranted variation and enhancing the care experience for all families.

How We’re Making a Difference

The MatNeo programme is made up of three main elements:

🧠 Perinatal Optimisation and Stabilisation

We’re embedding a pathway of care that includes seven evidence-based interventions proven to improve outcomes for preterm infants. This includes work on the PERIPrem bundle, which supports brain development and reduces mortality.

📊 Early Warning Tools

We’re helping teams implement the Maternity Early Warning Score (MEWS) and Newborn Early Warning Trigger and Track (NEWTT2) tools within effective PIER pathways (Prevention, Identification, Escalation, Response). These tools support early recognition and management of deterioration in both mothers and babies.

🤝 Collaborative Networks

We facilitate shared learning through the East Midlands Maternity and Neonatal Safety Network, bringing together clinicians, parents, and system leaders to drive improvement.

We are also supporting perinatal leadership teams to create and craft the conditions for a positive culture of safety and continuous improvement, enabling a more psychologically safe, collaborative, and supportive workplace.​

Real Impact, Real Stories

From April 2020 to March 2025, up to 112 lives were saved in the East Midlands with our support, by ensuring timely interventions are in place where problems could arise:

• 1,076 mums giving birth at less than 30 weeks received magnesium sulphate within 24 hours before birth. This meant up to 29 babies will not develop cerebral palsy, transforming the lives of the children and avoiding lifetime care costs of up to £29M.
• 517 mums in preterm labour at less than 34 weeks received antibiotics to reduce the risk of the baby developing early onset neonatal Group B Streptococcal infection, which can lead to sepsis or meningitis. As a result up to 51 babies in the East Midlands were born without Group B strep.
• Up to 20 babies’ lives were saved thanks to mothers receiving antenatal corticosteroids – medication for women between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation where there is a risk of preterm birth – which helps lung development in the foetus, reducing the risk of breathing problems and other complications in newborns.
• Up to 80 babies born at less than 34 weeks gestational age survived because their umbilical cord was clamped at, or after one minute after birth.

From implementing innovative diagnostics like the Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) ratio test to prevent pre-eclampsia, to supporting the Perinatal Leadership and Culture Programme (PCLP) that fosters compassionate leadership and safety culture, our work is transforming care across the region.

We’re proud to be part of a movement that puts people, safety, and equity at the heart of maternity and neonatal care.

Get Involved

Whether you're a clinician, parent, commissioner, or system leader—we want to hear from you.

• Interested in joining the East Midlands Maternity and Neonatal Safety Network?
• Want to learn more about our quality improvement tools and approaches?
• Keen to share your lived experience to shape future care?

📩 Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Explore the programme

*https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/birthcharacteristicsinenglandandwales/2021#birth-characteristics