Baby cot numbers down after bug

The number of cots available to care for tiny babies is dropping steadily after the partial closure of Wellington's neonatal unit because of a bug that killed three babies this year.

The hospital's decision not to take babies from usual catchment areas such as Hawkes Bay and Nelson is stretching other units.

A website monitoring cot availability shows the number of free beds has dropped steadily, from 11 when the hospital revealed its infection problem last week to four yesterday.