22,000 babies protected from cerebral palsy thanks to PReCePT programme

A programme to increase uptake of magnesium sulfate, a low-cost drug that protects premature babies from developing cerebral palsy, has protected more than 22,000 babies in England, according to data from the national neonatal audit (NNAP). This is likely to have prevented around 600 cases of cerebral palsy.

The milestone, which comes ahead of World Prematurity Day on 15 November, is thanks to PReCePT (Prevention of cerebral palsy in pre-term labour). PReCePT was a national programme, supported and evaluated by ARC West, to increase the uptake of magnesium sulfate in England.

Extensive research has shown that giving women at risk of premature birth a simple magnesium sulfate infusion can prevent their babies from developing cerebral palsy. The drug costs around £5 per dose in England.

NICE guidelines have recommended that all women in preterm labour receive magnesium sulfate since 2015. Despite this, uptake was slow. Only 64% of eligible women receiving it in England, Scotland and Wales during 2017.

Neonatologist Professor Karen Luyt and her team at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW) NHS Foundation Trust wanted to increase the uptake of magnesium sulfate as far back as 2013. They developed the Prevention of Cerebral Palsy in PreTerm Labour (PReCePT) programme to address the issue.

PReCePT was initially rolled out in the West of England with support from Health Innovation West of England, followed by a national rollout through the Health Innovation Network.

April 2025 marked 5 years since the end of the PReCePT programme. Research has shown the impact of the programme has been sustained with English uptake at around 87%. A recent study into variations in neonatal care by deprivation and ethnicity has shown the benefits of magnesium sulfate have been shared equitably across the population. This is a rare achievement in programmes to improve pre-term birth outcomes.

Karen Luyt, Professor of Neonatology at the University of Bristol, UHBW neonatologist and lead of ARC West’s Healthier Childhoods theme, said:

“With the collaborative PReCePT programme, we demonstrated that national investment to support implementation in every hospital can accelerate and sustain routine use of a new life-changing treatment for pre-term babies. The programme also achieved health equity.

“Globally, this highly cost-effective treatment isn’t available equitably. We hope that PReCePT’s sustained impact inspires other nations to adopt this evidence-based approach.”

One of the first women to receive magnesium sulphate through the programme was Elly Salisbury. She was offered the drug when pregnant with her son Cormac, whose due date was World Prematurity Day in 2013. Cormac is now a healthy 12-year old boy.

Elly said:

“I was so lucky to be given magnesium sulfate back in 2013 when I went into premature labour at 27 weeks – and then to be involved in the PReCePT programme in the years following.

“It’s incredible that the programme has now ensured that it is now given to the majority of mothers in pre-term labour across England and has helped so many babies.

“Behind every infusion of magnesium sulfate is a little boy or girl just like Cormac and a family just like ours. I am so happy to hear about the huge difference that this programme has made.”

The next phase of research on the impact of PReCePT is comparing England’s magnesium sulfate use with other countries. The findings will be published soon.