Until now there has been no specific statutory right to leave or pay for employees if their babies requires specialist neonatal care after birth. Instead, parents have relied on existing statutory leave entitlements or their employers’ discretion to take additional leave and in some cases, they have returned to work while their babies remain in hospital. It was recognised that the current position was unsatisfactory; families in this situation need more support and certainty so that they can focus on the needs and wellbeing of their babies.