Around 4,500 babies are born prematurely in Ireland every year and this can have a major financial impact on the families involved, new research has shown.

A birth is considered premature if it occurs before 37 weeks gestation. Babies born prematurely have an increased risk of a number of health problems, including cerebral palsy, respiratory problems and learning disabilities.

According to the findings, almost half of parents of pre-term babies have experienced a reduction in their income as a result of having to reduce their working hours to look after their infant.

Furthermore, eight in 10 parents admit that doctor visits, additional hospital admissions and travel have all been a source of major financial pressure.

Almost one-third of premature babies spend at least three months in hospital after their birth, while almost one in four spend five to 10 weeks there.

One in five parents of premature babies have missed more than three weeks of work beyond their allocated maternity or paternity leave.

The research also revealed that one in three parents of premature babies feel the experience has made them less likely to have more children, although half say it has not changed their desire to have more children.

Not surprisingly, a number of parents are worried about the long-term health complications their children may face, while others worry about intellectual development.

The research was released by the Irish Neonatal Health Alliance (INHA) at an event in Dublin for affected families and relevant healthcare professionals. The INHA provides support to families affected by prematurity.

Those attending were told that a new model of care for premature babies is to be published in early 2015, and important measures have already been taken in the last year with the establishment of the 24/7 neonatal transport service.

The National Neonatal Transport Programme (NNTP) was established in 2001 and has transported over 3,800 infants to date. Until December 1, 2013, the service was only available from 9am to 5pm daily, however on December 2, 2013, it became a 24/7 service.

Statistics for the first 11 months of this 24/7 service show that in that time, 482 premature infants have been transported, representing 87% of the total number of transports (some were carried out by hospitals).

Some 30% of transports in the last 11 months have been outside of the 9-5 hours and 63% have involved infants being brought to or from units outside of Dublin.

There have also been 13 air transports, including two overseas.

The NNTP is expected to have a big role in the new care model that is to be published next year. This model aims to ensure that all babies born prematurely in Ireland receive standardised and appropriate care.

Presenting details on the draft standards of care at the INHA event, Prof John Murphy of the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street, said that the new model will centre on three main principles - ‘the how, the where and the flow'.

These principles will ensure that infants are treated in the most appropriate location, that they will receive standardised care no matter where they are born and that they are brought to larger hospitals when necessary and back to their referring hospital when treated successfully.

"Health care professionals across Ireland are doing incredible work every day caring for premature babies. We want to support them in this work by putting in place measures that ensure that the right thing is done at the right time for all premature infants.

"I have been meeting paediatric departments across the country to see what is needed to support doctors, nurses and families. There has been a universally positive response to changing practices to ensure optimum care for infants," Prof Murphy said.

The new standards of care document is being developed by Prof Murphy and his colleagues, and is due to be finalised in the New Year, after which it will be presented to the HSE and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland to be reviewed.

This new research was released ahead of World Prematurity Day (November 17).