The changing role of the practitioner caring for the newborn

The NHS newborn infant physical examination (NIPE) is an established and integral element of child health surveillance in the UK, and is based on standards set by the UK National Screening Committee. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) are modernising the standards for the education and training of nurses and midwives, so that they will be equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to practice. The professionals trained to complete the NIPE are usually midwives, one of the medical team or neonatal nurses. Although their training might differ in that nurses and midwives will attend a specific educational course related solely to the NIPE, the medical team has this training embedded within their medical education. Historically, the NIPE has been predominantly performed by medical teams; however, the junior doctor role has been affected by changes in working time directives.