If your baby needs to stay in neonatal care after birth, you may be entitled to extra time off work and pay. This is called Neonatal Care Leave and Pay. 

If your baby spends 7 days or more in neonatal care, eligible parents can receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave, on top of maternity, paternity, or shared parental leave. This gives you more time to be with your baby once they come home, without worrying about rushing back to work. 

Your employer can explain how to apply and whether you qualify. 

Neonatal leave is available to employees from their first day in a new job and applies to both parents of babies who are admitted into hospital up to the age of 28 days, and who have a continuous stay in hospital of 7 full days or more.