Maternity and Early Years - Making a good start to family life (16th March 2010)The Government has today announced the launch of a strategic vision for the further transformation of maternity services and early years services. “Maternity and Early Years - Making a Good Start to Family Life”
The document has been developed jointly by the Department of Health, The Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, drawing on the views of mothers and fathers, children’s centre staff, local health practitioners and children.
Document
Health Effects of Exposure to Ultrasound and Infrasound (1st February 2010)The independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR), which reports to the Health Protection Agency, has reviewed the latest scientific evidence on the health effects of ultrasound (frequencies above 20 kilohertz) and infrasound (below 20 Hz).
The report finds that the available evidence does not suggest that diagnostic ultrasound affects mortality of babies during pregnancy or soon after birth. The evidence also does not suggest any effect on childhood cancer risk. There have, however, been some unconfirmed reports suggesting possible effects on the developing nervous system - for instance, on handedness of the child.
AGNIR concluded that there is no established evidence that diagnostic levels of ultrasound are hazardous. However, further research is needed to determine whether there are any long-term adverse health effects, especially following exposure of the unborn child.
Report Warrington - using libraries to raise health awareness (21st January 2010)Warrington Borough Council used Communities for Health (C4H) funding to run a health programme based in its libraries.
Information Summary of insight research with middle aged adults (2nd February 2010)Change4Life asked research company 2CV to carry out research to help inform a campaign aimed at adults. The research was carried out between July and October 2009 with middle aged men and women to investigate their habits and attitudes to diet, physical activity and weight status.
Summary A liberal dose? Health and wellbeing: the role of the state (1st February 2010)The role of the state in health and wellbeing is a complex and controversial issue. A difficult question for any government is how far to intervene in the choices and behaviour of individuals in order to promote their own, or others’, health. Good health is a vital ingredient of a good life – but so is freedom.
This report:
- sets out evidence for what the public think about this question;
- explores the key issues at stake and clarifi es principles for state intervention;
- suggests a new framework to guide decision making; and
- proposes a new narrative for future state intervention.
Report Influencing public behaviour to improve health and wellbeing (1st February 2010)This independent report builds on current approaches, using the latest evidence from areas such as behavioural economics and psychology, to suggest ways in which the Government could become more effective in this area, to help people to make healthier choices where they wish to do so.
Report Enabling effective delivery of health and wellbeing (1st February 2010)This independent report offers recommendations to the Secretary of State on how better to enable the delivery of improved health and wellbeing. The terms of reference for this report requested an assessment of the current opportunities and barriers in delivery systems, to identify where practical changes could be made to improve effectiveness.
Report
The Family Nurse Partnership Programme (3rd December 2009)This letter from Ann Keen and Dawn Primarolo informs about the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) Programme. FNP is an evidence-based, preventive programme for vulnerable first-time young parents, delivered from early pregnancy until the child is two. Extensive evidence points to short and long term benefits for children and parents.
Information Birth and beyond: stakeholder perceptions of current antenatal education provision in England (8th December 2009)This research examined stakeholder perspectives about current NHS ante-natal education across ten strategic health authorities in England. The views expressed in this report are the authors' and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Health.
Report Birth and beyond: a review of the evidence about antenatal education (8th December 2009)The aim of this study was to synthesise published evidence concerning the cost and effectiveness of antenatal education, alongside evidence about stakeholder perspectives.
Report Getting Maternity Services right for pregnant teenagers and young fathers - 2nd edition (November 2009)This guide is aimed at practitioners working in mainstream services or areas where the prevalence of teenage pregnancy is relatively low and where there are no dedicated services for pregnant teenagers. It sets out the reasons why it is important to improve the maternity service offered to young parents, and offers practical guidance on working with pregnant teenagers and young fathers.
This guide, originally produced in 2008, has been revised following feedback from midwives and other maternity workers saying that they would welcome more guidance on ways of effectively engaging with young mothers. The content has been revised with the close involvement of the Fatherhood Institute and offers practical guidance on working with pregnant teenagers, young mothers and young fathers.
Guide
Green-top Guideline No. 37. Reducing the risk of thrombosis and embolism during pregnancy and the puerperium (18th November 2009)The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have published the second edition of this guideline, which was originally published in 2004 under the title Thromboprophylaxis During Pregnancy, Labour and after Vaginal Delivery.
Guideline
Pathways to success: a self improvement toolkit - focus on normal birth and reducing caesarean section rates (October 2009)This toolkit, from NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, is designed to help maternity services review and assess their current practice in promoting normal birth and reducing caesarean section rates. The toolkit also provide practical techniques to support sustainable changes in maternity services.
Please note you will need to login/register to obtain the toolkit.
Toolkit
Vitamin supplementation in pregnancy (SAC Opinion Paper 16) (19th October 2009)The scope of this paper, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, is to examine the evidence for supplementation with vitamins in pregnancy within the UK; it will not elaborate on their use in low- and middle-income countries in which other health benefits might occur.
Paper Location, Location, Location. Making choice of place of birth a reality (26th October 2009)Offering women choice of where to give birth is government policy across the UK as it is proven to have a positive effect on birth outcome. However this report, published by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), has found that over 95% of women in the UK are not able to choose where to give birth.
Press Release
Final Report and related documents
Organisational Patient Safety Incident Reports (7th October 2009)The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) today publishes Organisational Patient Safety Incident Reports for each NHS trust or local health board across England and Wales.
The Organisational Patient Safety Incident Reports summarise incidents reported by frontline NHS staff that have occurred between October 2008 and March 2009, and reported to the NPSA by 30 June 2009.
News
Reports
Improving Patient Safety: Risk Management for Maternity and Gynaecology (Clinical Governance Advice 2) (9th October 2009)This is the third edition of this guidance. The original edition, entitled Clinical Risk Management for Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, was published in January 2001 and revised in 2005 under the title Improving Patient Safety: Risk Management for Maternity and Gynaecology.
Guidance
Delivering high quality midwifery care: the priorities, opportunities and challenges for midwives (28th September 2009)This report was produced from work undertaken by the Quality of Midwifery Care Project steering group, its subgroups of midwives, lay representatives and other stakeholders, supported by the Department of Health in response to the NHS Next Stage Review and reflecting the policy direction of Maternity Matters.
Guidance
Safer Births. Supporting maternity services to improve safety (24th August 2009)The Safer Births programme, a partnership between The King's Fund, National Patient Safety Agency, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives, Centre for Maternal and child Enquiries and NHS Litigation Authority, ran regional interactive events in early 2009 for an invited audience of heads of midwifery, lead obstetricians and risk managers. The events were designed to help maternity units reflect on current practice, challenges to improving safety and their local priorities. They offered the opportunity for professionals to develop local solutions as a team, share experiences and learn about a range of methods used in improvement work and patient safety.
The short report sets out the views of the maternity professionals who attended the events. Ensuring safe services was the highest priority for staff across the four regions involved – Yorkshire and the Humber, North East, North West and London. The report reveals many examples of innovative local practice with maternity professionals developing better ways of working, improved handovers, joint training and user-friendly summaries of clinical guidelines.
Report
Information
Keep on the road for longer (28th August 2009)If you're aged 50 or over then keeping your body in good condition is important. Taking full advantage of health checks and services, where they are available, could help keep you up and running for longer.
A range of health checks and services are available locally, ranging from eye tests to flu vaccinations. Combining these with keeping physically active, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight will help you increase your chances of enjoying a healthy and happy later life. The old adage, “prevention is better than cure” is as true today as it has ever been.
This leaflet gives details of current entitlements and services you may be able to access, and when.
Leaflet About MRSA: information for people going into hospital - easy read (27th August 2009)This is an easy read version of a leaflet called MRSA screening: a positive result. This leaflet is for people who need to go into hospital for an operation or other treatment who are carrying the MRSA germ.
Leaflet Identifying unhealthy kidneys: what do I need to know about proteinuria? Information for patients (26th August 2009)This leaflet aimed at patients explains the meaning of proteinuria, cases, signs and tests to determine proteinuria. It also covers how to manage diabetes and high blood pressure with proteinuria.
This is part of a pack of information on proteinuria testing. Information sheets for GPs and labs have been published on the Department of Health website.
Leaflet Managing premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Information for you (2nd September 2009)The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have produced this patient information leaflet which explains all about PMS and how to manage it.
LeafletUmbilical cord prolapse in late pregnancy - Information for you (2nd September 2009)The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have produced this patient information leaflet which explains what a cord prolapse is and what to do.
Leaflet
Perinatal Mortality Surveillance Report 2007 (June 2009)This latest report from the Confidential Enquirty into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) show improvements in the stillbirth and neonatal death rates in the UK. The main findings are:
- For the first time since 2000, a significant fall in the stillbirth rate from 5.7 per births in 2002 – 2004 to 5.2 per 1, 000 births in 2007.
- The lowest neonatal death rate since 2000 (3.3 per 1, 000 live births).
- Similar improvements in the stillbirth and neonatal death rates among twins.
- A higher proportion of post mortem examinations being offered for stillbirths neonatal deaths compared to previous years, although this has been offset by higher proportion of parents/guardians refusing to have an examination. Information obtained from a post mortem examination can contribute to understanding the possible cause of a perinatal death which may help to inform future care.
Report
Protection of pregnant patients during diagnostic medical exposures to ionising radiation RCE9 (31st March 2009)This guidance, published by the Health Protection Agency, The Royal College of Radiologists and the College of Radiographers, recommends that pregnant women should not be given ionising radiation examinations in which the foetus receives a dose of more than a few milligrays as there is a small increased risk of causing childhood cancer. If examinations are clinically justified then although there is still the small risk of childhood cancer a termination of pregnancy would not be necessary.
Guidance
Saving Babies Lives Report 2009 (5th March 2009)The report, from Sands, aims to bring together in one document the range of issues which are key to reducing stillbirths and neonatal deaths in the UK. It argues that the numbers of baby deaths is unacceptable, and that failure to recognise the problem at all levels means that little is being done to improve the situation. It highlights the devastating impact of a baby’s death on the parents, their family and friends, and why we believe that many of these deaths could be prevented.
Report
Beating the ‘baby blues’ in Surrey (5th December 2008)
The weeks and months following the birth of a baby can be a difficult time for new mothers. But a scheme in Surrey is helping women beat the ‘baby blues’ by encouraging them to take part in organised ‘buggy walks’.
Information
ARTICLE - Rates of preterm birth following antenatal maternal exposure to severe life events: a population-based cohort study (9th December 2008)
Stress in the six months before conception increases the risk of giving birth prematurely research suggests. This study found that Mothers who experience a death or serious illness in the family before falling pregnant are more likely to have a preterm baby.
Article
A third or fourth degree tear during childbirth - Information for you (November 2008)
Patient information, published by Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Information
Chickenpox in pregnancy: what you need to know (November 2008)
Revised patient information published by Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Information
Pregnant women advised to limit caffeine consumption (3rd November 2008)
The Agency has today issued new advice on caffeine consumption during pregnancy. This follows the results of new FSA-funded research carried out by the Universities of Leeds and Leicester. Pregnant women are advised to limit their daily caffeine intake to 200mg a day – roughly two mugs of coffee a day. This is because too much caffeine might result in a baby having a lower birth weight than it should, which can increase the risk of some health conditions in later life. There is also some evidence which suggests that high levels of caffeine can result in spontaneous miscarriage. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, some soft drinks, and certain medicines.
Press release
Article from BMJ
Oracle Children’s Study (19th September 2008)
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and the Chief Pharmaceutical Office (CPHO) issued letters regarding a report on the Oracle Children Study, which was published online today by The Lancet. This is a 7-year follow-up study of a randomised controlled trial of the use of erythromycin and/or co- amoxiclav for women presenting in premature labour.
PL/CMO/2008/6
PL/CNO/2008/6
PL/CPHO/2008/4
Drinking, you and your mates: how does your night end? (30th September 2008)
For many of us, drinking alcohol is a part of life. But how much do you know about how alcohol affects your body, or how being drunk can affect people around us? How does your night end? This leaflet will help you make choices about how much you drink. It tells you how alcohol can affect you, explains how you can stay safe when drinking and what to do if someone is in trouble after drinking too much. It’s not about stopping drinking, but it’s about making you aware of what some of the consequences could be of regular binge drinking and making sure alcohol plays a more positive part in your day-to-day life.
Leaflet
Birth after previous caesarean: information for you (September 2008)
This information sheet has been produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Information Sheet
Venous thrombosis in pregnancy and after birth: information for you (September 2008)
This information sheet has been produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Information Sheet
NHS Online Pregnancy Guide (August 2008)
The first NHS online maternity guide, offering a wealth of information on pregnancy and birth, at just the click of a mouse, has been launched. The new Pregnancy Care Planner gives the latest and most comprehensive advice on all aspects of pregnancy, from getting pregnant, early pregnancy, the scans, to the birth, and the most up to date comparative guides to what is on offer at local maternity units.
Click here for the Resource
Standards for Maternity Care. Report of a Working Party (June 2008)
The Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Anaesthetists have worked together to agree these standards for maternity care, which are applicable to maternity services anywhere and which they believe will facilitate development of equitable, safe and high-quality care for mothers and their babies.
Click here for the Document
Click here for the Audit Indicators
Standards Database
