A Kent hospital has been hit by a serious shortage of neonatal nurses currently gripping the country.

An increasing numbers of babies – approximately one in 10 - are born in the UK in need of neonatal intensive care, but many hospital units are struggling to cope as they are down on trained staff.

Medway NHS Foundation Trust has 59 trained neo-natal nurses on staff, but there are 10 vacancies.

Clinical nurse lead Louise Proffitt, with the Oliver Fisher neonatal unit at Medway Maritime Hospital, said the high stress levels and intense work associated with the job was deterring some nurses from applying to train.

“We badly need to fill our vacancies,” she said.

“Neo-natal nurses are something of a speciality at the moment. So few people that apply are fully trained, which can take years.”

Research by the Neonatal Nurses' Association has found many units are operating on a one nurse to two babies ratio, instead of the preferred one to one, and this is causing increased death rates in some areas.

Mrs Proffitt added: “It is a very stressful job; children get sick much quicker than adults, and it is very demanding and technical work that takes a lot of time and energy.

“You really have to be on the ball.”

Darford and Gravesham NHS Hospital trust, has 17 neonatal nurses and one vacancy.

East Kent NHS Hospitals Trust is fully staffed with 58 neonatal nurses at William Harvey Hospital in Ahsford and 19 at the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother in Margate, and in looking to recruit five more nurses.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Hospital Trusts said it does not have shortages of neonatal nurses at present and staffing levels compared well with similar facilities regionally.