A breakthrough in neonatal care! Eligible newborns can now be treated safely at home with oral antibiotics, reducing hospital stays and supporting families. Discover the latest innovations and future

Source: BBC News

A groundbreaking project in the UK is transforming the way newborn babies with suspected infections are treated—allowing families to continue care at home instead of enduring long hospital stays.

Traditionally, infants with early-onset infections are admitted to hospital and receive intravenous (IV) antibiotics for up to a week. The Noah (Neonatal Oral Antibiotics at Home) initiative changes this by enabling eligible babies to switch to oral antibiotics after just two days in hospital. Parents are trained to safely administer the medicine, and ongoing follow-up ensures that babies continue to recover well at home.

This approach was first piloted at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (RDUH). Following its success, Noah is now part of routine care there, with plans for wider national adoption.

For new mother Emily Jeffery, the programme made an immediate difference:

“To be able to come home with antibiotics for Luna during my first few days as a mum made all the difference for us as a family. It meant we could be together… I’m so grateful for that precious time.”

Parents are not only guided in how to administer antibiotics but also receive regular follow-up calls to confirm their child’s progress—an innovation that reassures families while supporting clinical safety.

Dr. Harriet Aughey, neonatal paediatrician at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and co-lead of the project, explained:

“This project allows a certain cohort of our babies, who have suspected early-onset infection, to switch from five days of intravenous antibiotics to oral antibiotics at home. It’s new for the UK and very exciting.”

Beyond family comfort, the initiative has significant healthcare benefits. According to Prof Stuart Logan, director of the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South West Peninsula:

“It saves money for the NHS. We estimate if we roll this out nationally, we could save about £12 million a year.”

By reducing the number of occupied beds, the project also eases pressure on neonatal units—helping to avoid transferring very sick babies to other regions.

The Noah project is now expanding across southwest England and being adopted by other NHS trusts. It is a collaborative effort involving RDUH, Health Innovation South West, NIHR ARC South West Peninsula, and the South West Neonatal Network.

The success of this model signals a shift in neonatal care: a patient- and family-centred approach that delivers clinical effectiveness, cost savings, and—most importantly—precious time at home during a baby’s earliest days.