Key Summary
- NHS to decrease maternal mortality rates across the nation through new clinical standards.
- The reform provides quick health support for women suffering from various health concerns.
- A £5 million fund allocation to the NHS trusts to buy better equipment and other necessities.
NHS has overhauled its clinical standards and increased accountability to hospitals across England to reduce the maternal mortality rates.
The new standards, which forms a part of the NHS’s maternal care bundle, has been developed by frontline clinicians, women and families, Royal Colleges, regulatory bodies, professional societies and charities.
It offers pregnant women an early risk assessment before their first antenatal appointment, for venous thromboembolism, fatal blood clots in deep veins.
Mothers-to-be who are at risk will be provided with thromboprophylaxis (blood thinners) within 72 hours.
Similarly, women with conditions like epilepsy, mental health concerns, haemorrhage, etc. have necessary support with the new standards.
These health conditions account for almost 52 per cent of maternal deaths in England.
According to the NHS, maternal deaths are caused by medical conditions developed during pregnancy.
Blood clots and strokes account for 17 per cent maternal deaths, while 15 per cent die due to cardiac arrest.
Epilepsy patients will have access to a specialist team who provides personalised support to control seizures and gives pregnancy-friendly medicines.
As 252 maternal deaths are reported between 2022 and 2024, the new reform emphasises on mental health by initiating conversations with the pregnant women and a report will be provided at their antenatal appointment.
Anyone with serious emotional suffering will be referred to specialist NHS perinatal mental health support.
Women who experience hemorrhage or post-delivery bleeding will be supported by specialist obstetricians and anaesthetists soon to prevent life-threatening blood loss.
NHS aims to roll out the complete national measures by March next year to significantly reduce the number of maternal deaths in the country, with a £5 million fund allocation to the trusts to buy better equipment and other necessities.
The services will soon be upgraded with direct telephone lines to maternity staff, which will help with immediate resolutions.
NHS has also integrated technology into the practice standards as the Maternal Outcomes Signal System (MOSS), a digital tool which rapidly analyses data being routinely recorded by maternity teams on wards to spot whether there are potential emerging safety issues which need urgent attention and action.
NHS will publish MOSS’ findings every six months, to review the improvements.
“We still see symptoms of serious medical problems being missed, especially for Black and Asian women,” commented Kate Brintworth, chief midwifery officer at NHS England.
“One in five women will have a medical issue during pregnancy, yet many of these aren’t caught early enough – these measures, including more risk assessments in early pregnancy, will ensure no stone is left unturned.”
She added, “By setting out these clinical standards and holding hospitals to account we can significantly reduce avoidable deaths and prevent future tragedies.”
