THE SPECIAL care baby unit at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, has become one of the busiest in Scotland.

Average occupancy at the neonatal unit has gone up by 20 percentage points since 2003, according to figures released by Scotland’s public health minister and Dundee MSP Shona Robison.

Average occupancy at Ninewells Hospital last year was 85.1%, up from 76.1% last year and 65.9% in 2003.

This year’s figure was well above the national average of 67.5% and only Lanarkshire was busier with 88.9% average occupancy.

The latest figures also showed that 493 babies were cared for at the neo-natal unit in 2006, slightly down on 511 on the year but up from 346 in 2002.

Babies have also been moved to Ninewells from other parts of Scotland such as Lothian due to a nationwide shortage of nurses.

Dr Peter Fowlie, consultant paediatrician and clinical director for women and child health, said, “We are very lucky to have a neo-natal intensive care unit of such a high standard here in Tayside.

“It is an exceptionally rare occurrence for us to have to transfer a mother or baby to another unit and, in fact, we are frequently able to take babies from elsewhere in Scotland.”

Fife’s average occupancy rates were 50.9% in 2007, 56% in 2006 and 52.5% in 2003.

The Scottish Government is in the middle of a comprehensive review of neo-natal services, and will publish its findings.

“We are aware of issues within neo-natal services and are currently carrying out a comprehensive review of this service, through a dedicated neo-natal sub-group of the Maternity Services Action Group,” said Ms Robison.

“The Scottish Government will give full consideration to the findings and recommendations of the report when it is published.”

Ms Robison said recently that the shortage of nurses in Scotland is not as bad in Ninewells Hospital as in other parts of the country.

The issue was put under the spotlight by premature baby charity Bliss, which said there is a shortage of at least 200 nurses at the 15 specialist units across the country.

Overcrowding is an issue, with almost half the units at least 90% full during the past year. Bliss said an average occupancy rate of 70% over a year is safe and only the “goodwill” of medical staff was stopping the system from collapsing.