The AHSN NENC PReCePT Programme: Preventing cerebral palsy in preterm babies

Following successful rollout in the North East and North Cumbria region between October 2018 and March 2020, the AHSN NENC PReCePT (Prevention of Cerebral Palsy in the PreTerm Infant) Programme has potentially prevented 6.3 cases of cerebral palsy, saving the NHS £5.4 million.

This evidence-based, cost-effective project was designed to help reduce cerebral palsy in babies through the increased antenatal administration of magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) to mothers during preterm labour, costing from £1 per individual dose.

Originally developed by the West of England AHSN in collaboration with University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, the PreCePT Programme was selected for adoption and spread across the national AHSN Network during 2018-2020 following successful results.

Funding was provided by NHS England to support the delivery of this Programme across the NENC region, with the AHSN NENC adding a small amount of additional funding to this.

The AHSN NENC worked collaboratively with the Maternity Northern England Clinical Network and Northern Neonatal Network to deliver the PReCePT programme, providing training to 1467 staff, sharing learning and best practice, and developing the PReCePT Regional Protocol and film clips which have been shared regionally and nationally.

Although the National Programme has ended, training amongst trust staff is now ‘business as usual’ and this work forms part of the Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme.

Read the full case study on the AHSN NENC Innovation Library