FEARS are growing for the future of York's Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) amid plans to restructure the country's neonatal services.

There is particular concern for the future of the two intensive care cots in the unit, which also has 13 special care cots.

Under Government plans to improve the treatment of sick or premature babies, the York unit could face major reorganisation - or possibly even closure.

But a Department of Health spokeswoman said that no final decisions would be made until the end of consultation on July 11.

A report, led by a Department of Health working group, calls for a more structured, collaborative approach to caring for newborn babies. It suggests forming clinical networks in which hospitals with different types of neonatal units work closely together. But the number and final format of networks has yet to be decided.

Parents and staff on the York SCBU Support Group were told at their last meeting by Dr Michael Harran, consultant paediatrician at York Hospital, that he did not believe closure was on the cards.

But chairman Lynne Britton said members are still concerned.

She said: "Dr Harran doesn't seem to think it will close now, I think they have looked at what would happen if neonatal care was taken away from York.

"It would have meant that really poorly babies would have to go to Leeds or Hull.

"That would have caused us a lot of concern. But it seems there are going to be some changes which might mean staff changes."

Mrs Britton said the changes might even involve upgrading the unit in York. She said: "As a support group we would welcome that, because for a couple to have to go to Leeds or Manchester with their very sick baby is just horrendous."

Although the report rules out centralisation of services, which would almost certainly have led to the closure of the York unit, a Department of Health spokeswoman said nothing could be ruled out.

She said: "We are very keen for there to be good local services but we can't keep units open that are not viable. If there's a unit that doesn't have very much traffic and a shortage of staff, it's better that there's a larger unit nearby that absorbs it.

"This is a public consultation and we really can't say anything for certain, it really depends on what that local area thinks is best for their services."

A York Health Services NHS Trust spokesman said: "The trust welcomes the consultation document as an opportunity to finalise national policy in this important area.

"York currently provides special care baby facilities and will continue to do so in the future.

"York also provides neonatal intensive care. We envisage and wish to provide such a service in the future. This will be determined by the outcome of the consultation, any proposals that are considered will be subject to further local review."

The Government report is available at www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/neonatal.htm.

Updated: 10:27 Thursday, April 24, 2003