The 28th annual Reason meeting was a very successful hybrid format combining just over 100 face-to-face attendees and a virtual audience of more than 340. The organisers are indebted to the 19 sponsors and the 74 exhibitors, of whom 55 were on site at the stunning facility of the Lakeside Slate Conference Building at the University of Warwick.

A 12-member scientific committee had invited a high-quality faculty, including four international speakers, based on personal connections and recommendations. Topic suggestions made by the previous year’s audience were also addressed. The full programme can be accessed at https://bit.ly/3Bz5F9j

The audience was treated to a stimulating selection of subjects ranging from: medical and device closure of the patent ductus arteriosus to neonatal seizure treatment; from palliative care to point-of-care ultrasound; from the science of human breast milk to pulmonary hypertension, and transitioning from nasogastric tube to oral feeds. And that was just the first day.

Day two provided insight into: fetal alcohol syndrome; long-term ventilation; the impact of prematurity on life-long respiratory and cardiovascular health; the PERIPrem project (Perinatal Excellence to Reduce Injury in Premature Birth); quality improvement methodology to improve outcomes for necrotising enterocolitis, and education and learning in Vietnam. The meeting was rounded off with the challenge of replicating a Swedish model of home phototherapy for uncomplicated jaundice in the UK. In keeping with the tradition of Reason meetings, presentations were followed by adequate discussion time with questions from both the live and virtual audiences. There was also a high quality of poster submissions, four of which were presented orally during the programme, with the best receiving sponsored prizes. The poster and oral presentation winners were as follows.

Fisher and Paykel Healthcare session

Oral presentation winner

Title: pCO₂ variation in elective transfers of infants on non-invasive respiratory support

Authors: Catarina Barreiros Couto, Mira Parmar and Julia Arthur, Cambridge University Hospitals

Catarina Couto

Poster presentation winner

Title: Neonatal jaundice in infants born at 37 weeks – is NICE treating too many?

Authors: Mona Noureldien, Chloe Hill, Amira Ali, Shammah Gbenga-Ojo, Morenike Adewuyi and Pinki Surana, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Mona Noureldien

Service development by a nurse or nursing team session

Poster competition winner

Title: Nurse-led simulation training to support less-invasive neonatal stabilisation and other learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Authors: Amy Smith, Jennifer McGrath, Gemma Finch and Charlotte Berry, St Peter’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Chertsey

Dr Tracy Lawson, receiving the award on behalf of the authors, from consultant neonatologist and Reason faculty member Kevin Ives.

Poster competition winner

Title: NWNODN (North West Neonatal Operational Delivery Network) family-integrated care accreditation programme

Authors: Sarah Fullwood, North West Operational Delivery Network

Sarah Fullwood with Kevin Ives.

Quality improvement session

Oral presentation winner

Title: A quality improvement initiative to reduce incidence of severe brain injury in preterm infants <30 weeks’ gestation

Authors: Michelle Brooks, Gill Currie, Joanne Gallagher and Mahmoud Montasser, University Hospital Wishaw, NHS Lanarkshire

Michelle Brooks and Gill Currie receiving their award.

Poster competition winner

Title: INVentS - Improving Neonatal Ventilation Safety: a quality improvement initiative

Authors: Sandy Kirolos, Tracy Clinton, Nicola McPhee and

Louise Leven, Royal Hospital for Children, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

The prizewinning poster from the team at Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow.

Save the date for next year’s Reason meeting, which will be held on 26-27 June 2023 at The Slate, Warwick, with the aim of achieving a 50:50 hybrid conference. Registration will be opening soon at www.reasonmeeting.co.uk