Neonatal transport: the Waikato experience.

The experience of the Waikato newborn transport service is reviewed from its inception in September 1980 until December 1986. The service has carried out 599 transports of which 311 were emergency retrievals. Total numbers of transports have increased each year although the demand for emergency retrievals has levelled off. The characteristics of babies requiring emergency retrieval have not changed. One-third of deaths occurred before retrieval could be effected, and 10% of retrieved babies subsequently died. Avoidable deaths seemed uncommon in the latter group. The neonatal transport service is an important part of regionalised perinatal care in the Waikato.