Following nine years of campaigning for families of premature babies, The Smallest Things is delighted the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) entitlement is coming soon.
The long-overdue Neonatal Care Leave and Pay legislation is one step closer to being available to thousands of parents whose babies are born sick or premature.
On 20 January 2025, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) announced that new entitlements would finally come into effect from 6 April 2025. This follows almost a decade of campaigning led by The Smallest Things and powered by the parent voice.
As neonatal parents ourselves, we know first-hand how essential these legal changes are for families going through the toughest of times.
“The stress and trauma experienced by families during a neonatal stay cannot be underestimated. In an instant, our world is turned upside down. No parent or carer should be sitting beside an incubator worrying about pay or work.”
"This much-needed additional leave and pay means parents and carers can be with their baby or babies in hospital. We know the journey doesn’t end when it’s time to go home. The new law will give families essential time at home to bond, begin to recover from trauma and to care for a fragile baby or babies without the pressure of finances or returning to work too soon.” - Catriona Ogilvy, Founder of The Smallest Things
Parent voices on a lasting journey
Parents have been fighting for extended paid leave for families of premature babies for over nine years. The Smallest Things harnessed the power of the parent voice, with more than 357,000 people signing The Smallest Things’ petition, to call on the government to extend paid parental leave for neonatal families. Mums, dads and partners have bravely shared their stories of neonatal care and beyond. In doing so they have shone a light on the realities of life after NICU, helping to raise awareness in calling for more time with their babies.
We know it’s a long journey, with more than 80% of parents telling us the neonatal journey doesn’t end when their baby or babies leave the hospital: over half of babies are readmitted and 71% worry about the long-term outcomes for their child. Perhaps unsurprisingly, almost a quarter of parents are diagnosed with PTSD after time in NICU. This additional time will help.
As we celebrate this important step, we send an enormous thank you to everyone who has added their voice to this award-winning campaign.
But... there is more to do to!
You can continue to support the work of The Smallest Things and help us to create a better world for families after neonatal care and their children born prematurely by becoming a Smallest Things campaigner.