On 15 July the UK government announced its backing for the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill that was introduced by Stuart McDonald in the House of Commons in June. The 12-week paid leave, which is in addition to other leave entitlements such as maternity and paternity leave, covers a premature baby’s hospitalisation period, allowing parents to delay the commencement of their regular parenting leave. Once in law (by 2024 or 2025), neonatal care leave will be available to employees from their first day in a new job and will apply to 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. Neonatal care leave will be paid if the parents meet certain conditions regarding continuity of service and minimum earnings.