Neonatal care leave and pay

Implementation date: 6 April 2025

The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act entitles eligible parents to take up to 12 weeks' neonatal care leave if their baby requires neonatal care. They will also be entitled to neonatal care pay if they meet further eligibility requirements. This entitlement is in addition to existing entitlements such as maternity leave.

The right will apply in relation to babies born on or after 6 April 2025.

The detail of how the rights to leave and pay will operate is set out in regulations:

See Neonatal care leave and Neonatal care pay for more information.