On 6th April 2025 the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 comes into force. From Sunday, eligible parents will be entitled to take additional leave to spend time with their baby whilst they receive neonatal care. The government estimates that this will support around 60,000 new parents.
What is considered neonatal care?
Neonatal care is not limited to medical care received in a hospital setting and could include ongoing monitoring and visits by healthcare professionals and palliative or end-of-life care.
Who is eligible?
Employees who are:
- The mother or birth parent
- The father
- The partner of the mother or birth parent
- Those who are adopting a child
- The intended parents through a surrogacy arrangement
Neonatal leave will be a day one right, so leave can be taken from the first day of work. Each eligible parent will be entitled to a separate amount of leave, including parents who are working for the same employer.
How much leave can be taken?
In order to take neonatal care leave, care must have started within 28 days of birth and must last for at least 7 consecutive days. Where there are multiple births and the babies are receiving care at the same time, parents will still be entitled to the same amount of leave.
Parents will be entitled to 1 week of leave for each week that the baby is receiving neonatal care, up to a maximum of 12 weeks. If leave has already been booked, neonatal care leave can be added on to the end of this, but neonatal care leave must be taken within 68 weeks of the baby’s birth.
Statutory Neonatal Care Pay
In addition to the entitlement to take leave, Statutory Neonatal Care Pay will be available for up to 12 weeks for parents that meet continuity of service requirements and a minimum earnings threshold.