SALISBURY District Hospital has come under fire after it was announced that the most critically ill premature babies will need to be treated in other areas because of problems in recruiting specialist staff.

Until now, the neo-natal intensive care unit at the Odstock site has been able to care for all desperately ill babies who are born very early and develop other life-threatening conditions.

But the current staffing crisis means that parents with babies whose lives are hanging in the balance might have to travel hundreds of miles a week to see their tiny children.

The news has angered those working in the field and parents who have experienced the anguish of giving birth to critically ill premature babies.

"It is simply a case of making cuts," said an NHS employee who does not want to be named.

"Staff have left and not been replaced, which means the expertise isn't available to ventilate these babies at Salisbury.

"It appears the babies could be sent to hospitals anywhere in the south or possibly other parts of the country.

"Can you imagine what that would be like for the parents over several weeks?

"It's also very frustrating for the nursing staff who have had training to look after these very special babies.

"Without a neonatologist and nurse practitioners in the unit, the babies will be treated elsewhere, and these staff won't be able to use their skills."

Staff are also concerned about the impact of moving the very delicate babies.

"It is distressing for everyone transferring a baby in that condition," said the NHS employee.

"It is not acceptable - we have the facilities in Salisbury and should continue treating these special babies here."

Last month, we reported how staff in the unit saved the life of tiny Chole Evens, who weighed less than one-and-a-half pounds when she was born and might be the last baby that small to be treated in the city.

Director of operations Peter Hill admitted the hospital was experiencing problems.

He said: "Neonatal intensive care requires very high levels of specialist care and the Trust, in line with the national position, has recently experienced difficulty recruiting specialist nursing staff with the highest skill levels required in the neonatal intensive care unit.

"The trust is in the process of reviewing the neonatal intensive care aspect it provides at Salisbury District Hospital.

"Only some babies need special care and these will continue to be cared for by a highly skilled team of doctors and nurses in Salisbury.

"Few, about four a year, require the very highest level of intensive care.

"In these cases, the mother and baby will be transferred to other hospitals, on the advice of the medical team."