NHS Scotland Perinatal Telehealth Project

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Background

In NHSScotland maternity units there is a requirement to address the high percentage of inappropriate admission of women to labour suite (‘Birthrate plus’ data suggests that 30% and above in some units of women in labour suite are category X i.e.women who have been admitted because of suspected labour, but on admission are found not to be in labour). Clearly this has implications for patient care, professional practice and resoource management.

This project is progressing the development, evaluation and implementation of an auditable clinical template and decision support tool which will assist midwives in making clinically appropriate telehealth assessment and decision making regarding women in their care e.g. whether a woman is in labour, timing of admission or requirement for a home visit.

Project Objectives:

• Develop and evidence based decision support tool to support midiwves telehealth assessment of women who think they may be in labour.
• Improved decision making will be measured by Birthrate plus data i.e. significant reduction in category X women in labour suite
• Establishment of standard of practice and system of governance for midwifery telehealth assessment
• Consideration to move to an electronic tool will be progressed following the completion of the pilot
• Full consideration of education and training requirements

Further information to be posted.

Eunice E Muir
Project Lead