The government has confirmed that, subject to Parliamentary approval of the regulations implementing the change, parents with babies in neonatal care will be entitled to Neonatal Care Leave from 6 April 2025.

Neonatal Care Leave will apply to parents of babies who are admitted to neonatal care at up to 28 days old and remain in hospital for seven full days or longer. Parents will be able to take up to 12 weeks’ leave, in addition to any other leave they are entitled to including maternity and paternity leave. Neonatal Care Leave will be available from an employee’s first day in a new job.

In addition, employees who meet continuity of service requirements and a minimum earnings threshold will be entitled to Statutory Neonatal Care Pay.

Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders said, “Parents of children in neonatal care have more than enough to worry about without being concerned about how much annual leave they have left or whether they’ll be able to make ends meet.

“This entitlement will deliver certainty to them and their employers, setting baseline protections that give them the peace of mind to look after the one thing that matters most – their newborn baby.”