Missing out on precious time: Extending paid parental leave for parents of babies admitted to neonatal intensive or special care units for prolonged periods

Abstract

In Australia, approximately 18% of newborn babies are admitted to a neonatal intensive or special care nursery. While most babies admitted to a neonatal intensive or special care nursery are discharged home within a few weeks, around 6% of babies spend more than 2 weeks in hospital. For the parents of these babies, much of their leave entitlements (Australian Government Paid Parental Leave Scheme is up to18 weeks for the primary care giver and up to 2 weeks for partners) are used before their baby comes home from hospital. The time babies and parents spend together in the early developmental period, during the hospitalisation and when the baby is discharged home, is crucial for optimal child development and bonding. Yet care givers who have a baby admitted to neonatal intensive or special care for extended periods are not currently entitled to any extra parental leave payments in Australia. We recommend the Australian Paid Parental Leave Act is changed to allow primary carers access to 1 week of extra parental leave pay for every week in hospital (for babies admitted to hospital for more than 2 weeks), up to a maximum of 14 weeks. For fathers and partners of these babies, we recommend an additional 2 weeks of extra Dad and Partner Pay. The net cost, taking into account likely productivity benefits, would be less than 1.5% of the current cost of the scheme and would improve health and socio‐economic outcomes for the baby, family and society.

Impact of current Australian paid parental leave on families of preterm and sick infants

“…In addition, we recommend 2 weeks of extra DaPP for fathers and partners. 4 By extending both PPL and DaPP, parents will be able to spend more time with their infant whilst hospitalised and experience lower levels of financial stress. Evidence from studies focused on parental engagement in neonatal care have shown clear health benefits for infants, including reduced length of hospital stay.…”

“…We recommend a review of the government and industry PPL schemes and suggest 1 week of extra parental leave pay for primary caregivers for every week an infant is in hospital beyond 2 weeks, with a maximum of 14 weeks extra pay. In addition, we recommend 2 weeks of extra DaPP for fathers and partners 4 …”

“…However, in Australia, 18.2% of liveborn infants do not go home following the early days post‐birth, and instead require urgent hospitalisation and critical care in a NICU or SCN 3 . Infants born preterm (<37 weeks' gestation), those with respiratory distress, encephalopathy, congenital abnormalities, or conditions requiring surgery, can remain in hospital for several weeks or months, with approximately 6% staying two or more weeks 3,4 . Therefore, parents may be separated from their infant for extended periods, and may also be caring for other children, making it an extremely stressful and challenging time.…”

“…Currently, caregivers with an infant admitted to NICU/SCN for extended periods are not entitled to extra parental leave payments under the Australian Government PPL scheme. Consumers, advocate groups, health professionals and economists have recently come together to call for Australian Government reform of the PPL and DaPP policy, to support parents and infants with a prolonged NICU/SCN admission 4 . There is a need to explore parental perspectives of the financial consequences of preterm birth and infant hospitalisation, given the potential negative effect on families' wellbeing and child development.…”

“…3 Infants born preterm (<37 weeks' gestation), those with respiratory distress, encephalopathy, congenital abnormalities, or conditions requiring surgery, can remain in hospital for several weeks or months, with approximately 6% staying two or more weeks. 3 , 4 Therefore, parents may be separated from their infant for extended periods, and may also be caring for other children, making it an extremely stressful and challenging time. Additionally, financial stress associated with an infant's prolonged hospitalisation and ongoing medical needs post‐discharge can place significant strain on families.…”