Neonatal Unit referrals

Information for GPs

Neonatal Unit Medical Secretaries: 01865 221355 / 227918

Babies with prolonged jaundice

This guideline is for Community Midwives, Health Visitors and GPs who see babies with prolonged (neonatal) jaundice.

Prolonged jaundice is defined as jaundice lasting more than 14 days in term babies (gestational age of 37 weeks or more) and more than 21 days in preterm babies (gestational age of less than 37 weeks).

Well babies with prolonged jauncice

In babies with prolonged jaundice (see definition above):

• look for pale chalky stools and/or dark urine that stains the nappy
• ensure that routine metabolic screening (Guthrie - including screening for congenital hypothyroidism) has been performed.
  

Refer baby to the neonatal registrar on-call closest to where they live, irrespective of place of delivery.

Babies living nearer Oxford

John Radcliffe Hospital

Call Neonatal Unit Medical Secretaries: 01865 221355 / 227918 and request an appointment in the Prolonged Jaundice Clinic (well babies only).

Babies living nearer Banbury

Horton General Hospital

Call Paediatrician on Bleep 403 via HGH switchboard: 0300 304 7777.

Contact the Children's Ward and request a ward review: 01295 229001.

Unwell babies with prolonged jaundice

Babies who are unwell will need to be seen urgently and arrangements made to assess the baby at the Horton General Hospital or in the Oxford Paediatric Emergency Department, where they will be reviewed by a Paediatrician.