ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:To investigate delays in the transfer of neonates between healthcare facilities and to detect any adverse events encountered during neonatal transfer.METHODS:A prospective study was conducted from December 2011 to January 2012. A quantitative; non-experimental design was used to undertake a descriptive analysis of 120 inter-healthcare facility transfers of neonates within the eThekwini Health District (Durban) of KwaZulu-Natal Province; South Africa. Data collection was via questionnaire. Data collection was restricted to the Emergency Medical Service(EMSs) of eThekwini Health District; which is the local public ambulance provider.RESULTS:All transfers were undertaken by road ambulances: 83 (62.2%) by frontline ambulances; 35 (29.2%) by the obstetric unit; and 2 (1.7%) by the planned patient transport vehicles. Twenty-nine (24.2%) transfers involved critically ill neonates. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) time to complete an inter-healthcare facility transfer was 3 h 49 min (1 h 57 min) (range 0 h 55 min - 10 h 34 min). Problems with transfer equipment were common due to poor resource allocation; malfunctioning equipment; inappropriate equipment for the type of transfer and dirty or unsterile equipment. The study identified 10 (8.3%) physiologically related adverse events; which included 1 (0.8%) death plus a further 18 (15.0%) equipment-related adverse events.CONCLUSIONS:EMS is involved in transporting a significant number of intensive care and non-intensive care neonates between healthcare facilities. This study has identified numerous factors affecting the efficiency of inter-facility transfer of neonates and highlights a number of areas requiring improvement