Quality and Safety
Equity and Equality
Local Maternity and Neonatal Systems (LMNSs) to support all providers to implement the 5 priorities set out in the Equity and Equality Guidance.
Read the North East and North Cumbria Equity Analysis. We have also published our Equity and Equality Action Plan which identifies a range of actions we are progressing to improve services.
OBJECTIVE
Any incomplete/missing Equity Analysis to be submitted by 31 May 2022.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
The North East and North Cumbria Equality Analysis was refreshed and submitted to the regional maternity transformation team on the 31 May 2022.
OBJECTIVE
LMNS to submit Equity and Equality action plans by 30 September 2022.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
This objective is complete. You can read our Equity and Equality Action Plan.
Ockenden report actions
LMNS’s are required to ensure that all trusts are implementing the seven immediate and essential actions (IEA) set out in the interim Ockenden report. The deliverables were set prior to the final publication of the full Ockenden report and the review of East Kent Maternity Services, so the LMNS needs to support trusts to implement any further actions set out.
Objective
Ensure that trusts implement the 7 IEAs.
Where are we now?
All providers are continuing to embed and deliver the 7 IEAs identified in the interim Ockenden report, while the LMNS continues to oversee local trust actions for implementation and is accountable to the Integrated Care Board.
Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle version two
Published in 2019, this objective aims to reduce the number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths. The LMNS supports trusts to ensure they have implemented the five elements of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle version two.
OBJECTIVE
Every provider should have a pre-term birth clinic.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
All providers in the NENC have a pre-term birth clinic in place, with a lead consultant obstetrician and sonographer/midwife.
OBJECTIVE
At least 85% of women expected to give birth at less than 27 weeks can in a unit with an onsite neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Partners from across the North East and North Cumbria are working together towards this goal.
This can be challenging at times due to the size of the North East and North Cumbria and the location of the NICUs.
Between January and March 2022, 79% of babies born before 27 weeks were born in a unit with an NICU. The birth of each baby born before 27 weeks and not in unit with a NICU are reviewed on case by case basis to understand why this happened and to learn if something else could be done in similar situation in the future.
Personalised care
Objective
Every trust to ensure that every woman is offered a personalised care and support plan.
Where are we now?
All women in the North East and North Cumbria are offered a personalised care and support plan.
In North Cumbria, Northumbria, Gateshead and Durham and Darlington, the personalised care and support plan is included in a pregnant woman’s personal digital maternity record. Elsewhere, the plan is included in the pregnant woman’s personal maternity hand held paper record.
We expect all women in the NENC to have access to a personal digital maternity record by the end of 2023.
Smoke free pregnancy
The LMNS works with trusts to ensure they have robust plans in place to meet the deadlines set out.
Objective
46% of maternal smokers have access to new NHS smoke free pregnancy services by the end of March 2023, increasing to 100% by the end of March 2024.
where are we now?
Building on the North East and North Cumbria Tobacco Dependency in Pregnancy and the Postnatal pathway, by December 2022, all eight maternity services across the NENC will be providing in-house stop smoking support and nicotine replacement therapy to 100% of pregnant women.