Medical nephrectomy with anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs.

or bottle feeding. Before discharge mother stays for a couple of nights and has complete charge of the baby in her room but with the support of staff close by. Such participation and the continuing practical care parents are encouraged to give are critical. Going home follows naturally, irrespective of age or weight. Good liaison between hospital and community services, especially the home health visitor, is essential, and ideally the family doctor and health visitor will visit the family at home before discharge. In Leicester the general-practice health visitor supervises care at home. Our door is always open, however, and parents are encouraged to phone or visit at any time. The follow-up clinic is integral to support, and parents see people whom they know. Readmissions soon after discharge are almost invariably to the neonatal unit, care being given by staff who had looked after the baby before. Possible complications of early discharge-feeding problems, maternal anxiety, increased community work load-have not occurred, and some 5000 nursing hours a year have been saved. Prolonged separation of preterm babies from their parents might be harmful for psychological wellbeing4 and contribute to risks of nonaccidental injury, to which such infants are vulnerable.5 A more critical appraisal of discharge policies might help to minimise these hazards.