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Plenary sessions

P1 CLOSING THE LOOP: MULTIDISCIPLINARY ANTENATAL INTERVENTION TO REDUCE SEVERITY OF NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME
J. Robertson, A. Hughes, D. Manning.Wirral Hospitals NHS Trust, Wirral, UK

Background: In 1993, with increasing concerns over the neonatal consequences of maternal drug misuse, our District Drug Service established a dedicated team to support pregnant drug misusers. This service offers intensive support largely through a community clinic with access to obstetric, midwifery, paediatric, drug liaison, and Social Work advice. Since 1993, the service has kept records which include numbers of registered mothers, declared drug misuse, and neonatal outcome. In 1993–94, we audited admissions to Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of babies with severe neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

Change in Practice: Up to 1994, management of drug misusing mothers was directed at weaning all drugs simultaneously. In 1995, the emphasis changed to efforts to wean individual drugs whilst accepting the continued use of methadone. This was supported by education regarding the effects of different drugs antenatally, at the same . . . [Full text of this article]