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News Article
£2.45 million pledge to improve childbirth care
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a news article in News
2.45 million has been pledged by the government to improve childbirth care which is due to happen this year. It has been announced that the funding is intended to help NHS maternity staff to improve the safety of the women and babies they care for. Maternity safety minister Nadine Dorries said "I am determined to make sure as many mums as possible can go home with healthy and happy babies in their arms". Read full story. Source: Department of Health and Social Care, 4 July 2021 -
News Article
Women forced to give birth alone have said 'the system has completely failed' them. A new report by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service found the Covid rules requiring pregnant women to attend scans and give birth alone has caused widespread distress and anxiety. The research also revealed many women having to attend their appointments online felt it did not meet their requirements at all. The Royal College of Psychiatrists, who released the findings, have said due to a lack of support and resources, the mental health of pregnant women and new mothers is at risk. Read full story. Source: The Independent, 01 July 2021 -
News Article
Nottingham maternity: Dozens of baby deaths after numerous errors made
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a news article in News
An investigation by The Independent and Channel 4 has found dozens of babies have died on the maternity wards at Nottingham hospitals as a result of poor care. The special report tells how families have not had their concerns properly investigated nor has the hospital attempted to learn from previous mistakes. Nottingham NHS is now facing dozens of clinical negligence claims by grieving families, with the trust estimated to have already paid out £91m in damages and legal costs. Read full story. Source: The Independent, 30 June 2021 -
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Ethnic minorities found at higher maternity risks
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a news article in News
The charity Birthright have launched an inquiry into why women from ethnic minority backgrounds are experiencing higher maternity risks. Evidence in the inquiry will be gathered from parents, anti-racist campaigners, midwives and obstetricians. The NHS has said it is working on a new strategy to address inequalities, maternity and neonatal care. Read full story. Source: BBC News, 23 June 2021 -
Content Article
The national Perinatal Mortality Review Tool (PMRT) was developed with clinicians and bereaved parents in 2017 and launched in England, Wales and Scotland in early 2018; it was subsequently adopted in Northern Ireland in autumn 2019. The aim of the PMRT programme is introduce the PMRT to support standardised perinatal mortality reviews across NHS maternity and neonatal units Unlike other review or investigation processes, the PMRT makes it possible to review every baby death, after 22 weeks’ gestation, and not just a subset of deaths. This report presents data from the 3,693 reviews which were completed between March 2019 and February 2020.- Posted
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News Article
£52 million investment to fast track online maternity records
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a news article in News
England's Chief Nurse has announced every pregnant woman will be able to access their maternity records from their smart phone. The move has been made so that pregnant women will be able to have more control over their pregnancy and will be able to see all the decisions and information made via a smart phone. GPs and health professionals will also be able to access this information, it is hoped that by doing so, it will mean pregnant women will no longer have to repeat information to different clinicians they see whilst pregnant, which may also help improve safety. Read full story Source: NHS England, 17 June 2021 -
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Two more NHS maternity units downgraded
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a news article in News
Two more NHS maternity units have been downgraded by the care watchdog amid safety concerns. The services at Colchester Hospital and Ipswich Hospital were downgraded from good, to 'requires improvement', finding staff shortages at both hospitals. Moreover, it was also found handovers were not sufficient meaning staff were not sharing the proper information about the women and babies. Among the concerns and issues raised, there were problems with team-working, properly recording patient information, and inefficient information systems. Read full story Source: The Independent, 16 June 2021- Posted
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Group B Strep: Poppy's story
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Maternity
Group B Streptococcus (Group B Strep, Strep B, Beta Strep, or GBS) is a type of bacteria which lives in the intestines, rectum and vagina of around 2-4 in every 10 women in the UK (20-40%). Most women carrying GBS will have no symptoms and although it is not harmful to pregnant women, it can affect babies around the time of birth. Read Poppy's story. -
Content Article
What is group B Strep?
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Maternity
Group B Streptococcus (GBS, group B Strep or Strep B) is a type of bacteria which lives in the intestines, rectum, or vagina of 2 to 4 in every ten women in the UK (20 to 40%). This is often referred to as ‘carrying’ or being ‘colonised with’ group B Strep. Most women carrying GBS will have no symptoms. Carrying GBS is not harmful to you, but there is a small chance it can affect your baby around the time of birth. GBS can occasionally cause serious infection in young babies and, very rarely, in babies before they are born. Carrying GBS can also sometimes lead to serious infections for pregnant women, though this is also rare. Find out more about Group B Strep in pregnancy on the Group B Strep Support website or by watching the video via the link below.- Posted
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New clinics set up for pregnant women and new mums with pelvic health issues
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a news article in News
New NHS pelvic health clinics have been set up to help and support thousands of pregnant women and new mothers who are experiencing incontinence and other issues related to the pelvic floor. Women receiving care at 14 new pilot sites will be treated throughout their pregnancy. Among the treatment, women will learn how to perform pelvic floor exercises with a physiotherapist as well as receive advice on diet with continued support and monitoring throughout. Read full story. Source: NHS England, 13 June 2021 -
Content Article
This article from the Transforming Maternity Care Collaborative discusses midwifery a public health strategy, highlighting midwives in continuity of care models, evidence on midwifery public health interventions, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of investing in public health care to meet population health needs. -
Content Article
In midwifery practice, skin assessment is an important element of any physical examination of women. Fundamentally, key practice recommendations are centred on visual and tactile cues to assist with the identification of changes in skin appearance. Although visual signals are more readily discernible in women with light skin tones, they may be more challenging to detect in women with darker skin tones. As a means of decolonising midwifery theory and practice, this article published in The Practising Midwife, highlights ways in which midwives can develop confidence in skin assessment when caring for women with dark skin tones. Read the full article Related content – Decolonising midwifery education part 2: neonatal assessment -
Content Article
In addition to older individuals and those with underlying chronic health conditions, maternal and newborn populations have been identified as being at greater risk from COVID-19. It became critical for hospitals and clinicians to maintain the safety of individuals in the facility and minimise the transmission of COVID-19 while continuing to strive for optimised outcomes by providing family-centered care. Rapid change during the pandemic made it appropriate to use the plan–do–study–act (PDSA) cycle to continually evaluate proposed and standard practices. Patrick and Johnson describe how their team established an obstetric COVID-19 unit for women and newborns, developed guidelines for visitation and for the use of personal protective equipment, initiated universal COVID-19 testing, and provided health education to emphasize shared decision making. -
News Article
COVID-19 saw spike in new mothers seeking help with mental health
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Mental health consultations among new mothers were 30% higher during the COVID-19 pandemic than before it, particularly during the first three months after birth, suggests Canadian research. Study authors noted that postpartum mental illness, including postnatal depression, usually affected as many as one in five mothers and could have long-term effects on children and families if it becomes chronic. They looked at mental health consultations by 137,609 people in Ontario during the postpartum period – from date of birth to 365 days later – from March to November 2020. They found mental health visits to both primary care and psychiatrists were higher than before the pandemic, especially among those with anxiety, depression, and alcohol or substance use disorders. Read full story Source: The Nursing Times, 7 June 2021- Posted
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This study, published in Women and Birth, aimed to: 1. analyse clinical outcomes for women experiencing CMC with CoCE by students 2. analyse clinical outcomes for women in a fragmented care model with CoCE by students; 3. compare clinical outcomes according to women’s primary model of care. Authors conclude that continuity of care experiences should be offered to all women early in their pregnancy to ensure optimal benefits. Acknowledging midwifery students’ potential to make positive impacts on women’s clinical outcomes may prompt more health services to reconceptualise and foster continuity of care experiences. -
Content Article
Assessment of the skin is an important element of neonatal examination. Midwives need to develop knowledge and skills in this area to recognise changes in the skin and understand what these signify. Historically, teaching in this area has been skewed towards changes seen in newborns with light skin tones, resulting in a gap in clinical knowledge and resources on the assessment of skin in newborns with darker skin tones. This article, published in The Practising Midwife, on the decolonisation of midwifery education and practice, focuses on clinical assessment of the skin when examining newborns.- Posted
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Authors of this study conclude that among infants with a birth weight between 1.0 and 1.799 kg, those who received immediate kangaroo mother care (continuous skin-to-skin contact) had lower mortality at 28 days than those who received conventional care with kangaroo mother care initiated after stabilisation. Follow the link below to access the paper in full via The New England Journal of Medicine. -
News Article
'More work to do' to improve Nottingham maternity units
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
More needs to be done to bring maternity units at a city's two main hospitals up to scratch, inspectors have said. In 2020 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found serious concerns at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and labelled the units "inadequate". A new report concluded the trust still has "some areas to address". In October a coroner said the death of Wynter Andrews minutes after she was born was "a clear and obvious case of neglect". Nottinghamshire assistant coroner Laurinda Bower also revealed a 2018 whistle-blowing letter from midwives to trust bosses outlining concerns over staffing levels as "the cause of a potential disaster". In the same month "in response to concerns raised... and coronial inquests", the CQC carried out an unannounced inspection at the hospital and found some staff had not completed training and "did not always understand how to keep women and babies safe", and issued a warning notice over its concerns. Its latest report, based on an inspection in April, found improvements in the way women at risk of deterioration were identified and found documentation and monitoring had improved. However the CQC found a disconnect between online and paper record-keeping and said there were multiple systems in place that led to duplication and errors at times. Read full story Source: BBC News, 28 May 2021- Posted
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Detectives are examining a series of baby deaths at a troubled NHS trust as the number of cases being investigated by an independent inquiry nears 200 – making it one of the worst maternity scandals in NHS history. The Independent has learned officers in the serious crime directorate at Kent Police are looking at unsafe maternity care at the East Kent Hospitals University Trust and have held a series of high-level meetings, including with the Crown Prosecution Service. The discussions are believed to centre on the possibility of opening a criminal investigation and bringing charges related to corporate manslaughter and/or gross negligence manslaughter. If this goes ahead, it would be only the second time an NHS trust had faced a corporate manslaughter charge. Today, former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was “deeply concerned” about the new revelations and added that this latest scandal showed “deep-seated cultural and systemic issues” in maternity care. Read full story Source: The Independent, 24 May 2021- Posted
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The aim of this study from Gurol-Urganci et al. was to determine the association between COVID-19 infection at the time of birth and maternal and perinatal outcomes. Covid infection at the time of birth is associated with higher rates of fetal death, preterm birth, preeclampsia and emergency Caesarean delivery. There were no additional adverse neonatal outcomes, other than those related to preterm delivery. Pregnant women should be counseled regarding risks of covid infection and should be considered a priority for vaccination. -
News Article
Almost a fifth of nurses who left the profession cited a negative workplace culture as a reason for leaving along with almost a quarter saying they were under too much pressure. The nursing regulator, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) warned there could be an exodus of registered nurses after the coronavirus pandemic in its latest annual report. Despite a record number of nurses and midwives joining the profession across the UK, the NMC said pressure on frontline nurses could drive many away. In a survey of 5,639 nurses who left the register between July 2019 and June 2020, the NMC found that after retirement as the most common reason for leaving, almost a quarter of nurses (23%) said they left their jobs because of "too much pressure", leading to stress and poor mental health. A total of 18% blamed a negative workplace culture as the reason to leave. The NMC report warned: “These issues existed before the pandemic, and may well outlast it, further disrupting an already fatigued nursing and midwifery workforce. If not addressed, this could have a significant impact on the number of people we report leaving our register over the next year and beyond.” Read full story Source: The Independent, 20 May 2021 -
Content Article
Leaflet on reduced fetal movement
PatientSafetyLearning Team posted an article in Maternity
This leaflet has been developed by Tommy’s and NHS England to help pregnant people understand more about their baby's movements, why it is important and when to seek advice. The leaflet contains clear messaging on reduced fetal movements consistent with national guidelines.- Posted
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The '3 P’s in a Pod” poster is a reminder for anyone seeing pregnant women about ‘red flags’ and when to ask for help. Download online version here. -
Content Article
There are estimated 24 000–60 000 women who are pregnant and incarcerated worldwide and they often lack access to antenatal care at the same level as that available in their communities. Despite clear international standards that mandate equivalent care for people in prison, pregnant women in these settings face significant barriers to adequate antenatal care. The needs of pregnant women are often overlooked in prisons designed to house men . We must not forget this vulnerable and hidden cohort of women. Molly Skerker et al. explore the challenges for pregnant women in prisons worldwide.