Preterm labour and birth

Resource impact statement

No significant resource impact is anticipated

The 2022 update of the NICE guideline on preterm labour and birth reviewed the evidence on the use of repeat doses of corticosteroids.

We do not expect this update to have a significant impact on resources; that is:

• the resource impact of implementing any single guideline recommendation in England will be less than £1 million per year (or approximately £1,800 per 100,000 population, based on a population for England of 56.3 million people) and
• the resource impact of implementing the whole guideline in England will be less than £5 million per year (or approximately £9,000 per 100,000 population, based on a population for England of 56.3 million people).

The new recommendations provide guidance on when a single repeat course of maternal corticosteroids may be used, and so may reduce variation in practice and the number of multiple courses of maternal corticosteroids given.

Where clinical practice changes because of this update, there will not be a significant change in resource use. This is because the cost of a course of maternal corticosteroids is small.

Preterm labour and birth services are commissioned by integrated care systems. Providers are NHS hospital trusts.