Physiotherapy Staffing Standards for Neonatal Units in the United Kingdom
Advances in neonatal care and technology have improved survival for infants born sick or preterm. As a result, there is an increasing need for a comprehensive, collaborative approach that not only supports survival but is essential to improve outcomes and experiences for children and families on the neonatal unit and after discharge home.
This document has been endorsed by:
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and The British Association of Perinatal Medicine.
Physiotherapists are recognised as key members of the neonatal multidisciplinary team (Fernandez et al. 2025), contributing specialist expertise in neurodevelopment, respiratory and musculoskeletal care. Early physiotherapy involvement improves clinical effectiveness, can reduce complications, and optimises long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes (Doyle 2014; Orton 2024).
The neonatal period and early years represent a critical window for brain development, with neuroplasticity driven by early active movement and environmental interaction. Physiotherapists play a central role in the early identification of movement and developmental difficulties, enabling timely, targeted intervention and surveillance. This supports optimal motor development and helps prevent secondary complications associated with reduced motor activity or atypical development (Eyre 2014; Martin et al. 2011; Novak 2017; Marcroft et al. 2022).
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