ABSTRACT
In the UK, the clear majority of neonatal transfers are undertaken by road, but at times air transportation is needed depending on location and distance. Scotland has a well-established aeromedical capability, driven largely by factors such as geography and population spread, and it is increasingly accepted that helicopter and aeroplane transfers have their place in UK neonatal transport provision. Neonatal transport teams are composed of clinical and non-clinical team members in nursing, medical and driving roles. Delivering a neonatal transport service means having the ability to provide a mobile intensive care unit. The transport incubator system (TIS) is generally made up of an incubator housed on a trolley with attachments for the associated intensive care equipment. Designing and purchasing a TIS is expensive and must be undertaken with consideration to certain European standards. Intra-hospital transfers are another example where babies are not transferred by a specialist transport team.
