Introduction

The use of parenteral nutrition (PN) is well established within neonatal units in the UK. Although preterm infants are among the highest users of PN within any patient group, practices vary.1 2 The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death and the Paediatric Chief Pharmacist’s Group highlighted that up to only a quarter of babies in a study of 264 neonates across neonatal units in the UK received optimal nutrition.3 Responding to this, the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) published ‘The Provision of Parenteral Nutrition within Neonatal Services – A Framework for Practice’ in April 2016.4 This guidance incorporated recommendations from the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, with the aim of defining practice and recommending the minimum standards for the provision of PN.

In February 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a guideline on neonatal PN (NG154) (see box 1).5 This guideline covers PN for preterm babies, up to 28 days after their due birth date; and term babies, up to 28 days after their birth. The content is relevant to neonatal practitioners, neonatal networks, commissioners and parents.