Specialised neonatal ambulance used for emergency newborn transfers. © Montreal Children’s Hospital Care can vary when a newborn needs urgent transfer between hospitals, and this can affect safety and access to specialist support. Therefore, a consistent approach is essential. Neonatal emergency transport services form part of a wider perinatal network, and gaps between regions can lead to unequal care. This national survey examined how transport services for newborn emergencies are organised and used across Italy. The study is relevant for parents, families, and health professionals involved in pregnancy, birth, and newborn care. Overall, the findings highlight where services are well established and where more aligned standards could improve consistency.   Neonatal transport is sometimes required even when care is planned around specialist centres. In a decentralised health system, regions organise services differently. As a result, access to standardised newborn care during transfers may vary. The study aimed to describe organisation, coverage, and activity across the country. Researchers sent a questionnaire to all identified neonatal transport teams, and all responded. The survey focused on service organisation and practice rather than medical outcomes.   Why neonatal emergency transport services require standardised newborn care Most regions provided full coverage. However, some areas offered only partial coverage, and one region had no active service despite an approved plan. All services operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Nevertheless, most relied on on-call teams drawn from neonatal intensive care staff, while only a few had dedicated transport teams. Over one year, teams reported thousands of transports. Most involved primary transfers to higher-level care, whereas fewer involved back-transfers. Transport duration varied widely, with a median time just over 100 minutes. In addition, the availability of specific capabilities differed between regions, including nitric oxide, phototherapy, and active cooling. Signs of standardisation were evident. For example, many services used transport databases, written guidelines, audits, and internal training. However, activity levels differed sharply. Several teams carried out low numbers of transports each year. Although some regions used air transport, it represented only a small share of total activity.   What this means for parents and health professionals If a newborn requires transfer, parents can ask their care team whether neonatal emergency transport services are available locally and how teams staff them. In practice, health professionals can strengthen consistency by using shared guidelines, regular audits, and structured training. Where possible, planned referral pathways within regional perinatal networks can help match newborn needs to the appropriate level of care. Finally, reviewing local standards may help parents and professionals understand how neonatal emergency transport services operate in their area.   Paper available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/children12020162 Full list of authors: Bellini, C; Gente, M; Minghetti, D; on behalf of the Neonatal Transport Study Group of the Italian Society of Neonatology DOI: 10.3390/children12020162

Illustration of different caesarean section incision types, highlighting the importance of comparable data and standardised perinatal care. © FREEP!K   Large differences in how caesarean sections are used across Europe point to variation in perinatal care. These differences raise questions about how consistently evidence-based care is applied. Caesarean section is a common procedure that can affect maternal and newborn health outcomes. Standardised perinatal care is essential to ensure that evidence-based practice is applied consistently across settings. This joint statement reviews how caesarean section data are collected and compared in Europe. It is written for parents, families, and health professionals involved in pregnancy and newborn care. The paper shows that stronger, shared data standards are needed to support safer and more consistent care.   Differences in caesarean section rates between European countries are wide. Countries with similar resources report very different levels of intervention. This makes it hard to judge whether care is aligned with evidence and standards. Improving standardised perinatal care depends on understanding these gaps. The paper examines how existing European and international data sources report caesarean section rates. It compares routinely used indicators and highlights their limits. The focus is on whether current data allow meaningful comparison and evaluation of care.   Why standardised care matters for perinatal health The authors show that current international data mainly report overall caesarean section rates. These figures vary widely, from low to very high levels across Europe. However, basic rates do not explain why these differences exist. Important details, such as timing, indication, and population characteristics, are often missing. Without shared definitions, comparisons can be misleading. Standardised perinatal care needs comparable data to support evaluation and improvement. The paper also highlights differences between data sources. Some count women, others count births. Definitions of elective and emergency procedures vary. Missing or incomplete information further limits comparison. These inconsistencies reduce the usefulness of data for improving care quality.   What this means for parents and health professionals Clearer data standards can support better conversations about care. When health professionals have reliable information, they can reflect on practice and align care with evidence. Parents and families benefit from more transparent and comparable care approaches. Shared standards help support informed decision-making across settings. Improving data systems is a key step towards more consistent care. The authors encourage discussion about how caesarean section data are collected and used. Greater awareness of care standards can help drive quality improvement across Europe.   Paper available at: European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology Full list of authors: Velebil, P; Durox, M; Zeitlin, J; Mahmood, T; Euro-Peristat Research Group DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2025.02.056

Displaced women and children walk through a temporary refugee camp, illustrating the ongoing humanitarian crisis and its impact on vulnerable families. © FREEP!K   Access to consistent, high-quality pregnancy and newborn care can vary widely between populations. Differences in care pathways may affect health outcomes for mothers and newborns, especially in vulnerable groups. Standardised newborn care aims to reduce these gaps by ensuring the same level of care across settings. This is particularly important for families who face barriers in navigating health systems. This Research News is relevant for parents, families, and health professionals involved in pregnancy and newborn care. It highlights evidence showing where care is uneven and why aligning care standards matters for equity.   Differences in pregnancy and newborn care are often linked to where people live and their social circumstances. Refugee families may experience gaps in access to services that are routinely available to others. Standardised newborn care can help reduce these differences by defining clear expectations for care. In this context, standardised newborn care supports fairness and safety for all families. The featured study reviews existing research on maternal and newborn health among Syrian refugees living in Turkey. It compares health indicators between refugee and non-refugee populations using published studies. The aim was to identify inequalities in access to care and health outcomes related to pregnancy and the newborn period.   Why standardised care matters for equitable outcomes The review found clear differences in access to antenatal care between refugee and non-refugee women. Refugee women were less likely to receive at least four antenatal care visits during pregnancy. They were also less likely to receive iron supplementation and more likely to experience anaemia in late pregnancy. Adolescent pregnancy and home birth were more common among refugees. These findings point to gaps in how consistently care standards are applied. Strengthening standardised care pathways could help ensure timely and appropriate care for all pregnant women and newborns. Some outcomes did not differ between groups, showing that variation is not universal. Rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and neonatal intensive care admission were similar. Refugee women had lower rates , which the review links mainly to differences in maternal age rather than care quality. These mixed findings highlight that equity in care is complex. Standardised care can help focus attention on areas where gaps are most evident.   What this means for parents and health professionals For parents and families, the findings highlight how difficult it can be to access recommended care when information, language support, or services are not consistently available. Clear and well-communicated standards can help health systems support families more effectively, rather than placing responsibility on parents alone. Shared standards can help reduce missed care opportunities and improve communication across services. Improving equity starts with recognising variation in care. Discussing care standards with health teams can support more consistent practice. Learning from this evidence can help move towards fairer, high-quality care for every newborn and family.   Paper available at: Maternal and newborn health inequality among Syrian refugees in Turkey: a systematic review and meta-analysis Full list of authors: Hakimi, S; Ceber Turfan, E; Allahqoli, L; Ahmadi, M; Sogukpinar, N; Demirelöz Akyüz, M; Mehrabi, E; Rahmani, A; Alkatout, I DOI: 10.1186/s12939-025-02506-2