Agenda item

This report outlines Medway’s approach to supporting its families to have a healthy pregnancy detailing some of the initiatives, key targets and outcomes that are being delivered locally.

It also highlights work that will be being undertaken in the next 12 months.

Discussion

The report outlined a number of services that supported having a healthy pregnancy in Medway. There had been significant innovation in Medway. The midwifery team had supported 4,970 births in 12 months, 3,800 of which were for Medway families. July and August 2019 had been particularly busy. The  Midwifery team at Medway Foundation Trust had won the Royal College of Nursing Midwifery Team of the Year award.

Support for Medway families pre and post birth was considered to be good. The need to reduce rates of smoking at time of delivery was a key challenge nationally. For the current year, Medway’s figure had fallen from 17.4% to 15.9%. Funding had been secured through the Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Partnership for a full time midwife who would specifically work on this. A smoking cessation group had previously been established for parents. This had gradually evolved to help support parents with other issues. The Grow My Brain initiative was highlighted. Its development had brought together midwives, health visitors and Public Health A number of campaign videos had been produced and published online. There had been 75,000 views with the campaign having generated national interest. The Local Maternity System Transformation Plan aimed to ensure better continuity of care with a single team of midwives seeing a family throughout. Another key aim of the Plan was to ensure that birth related data was clear and readily available to enable families to make informed decisions.

The Following issues were discussed:

Number of service users – Data was not readily available to demonstrate birth rates by ward. Information would be circulated to Members outside the meeting.

Bereavement Suite – Medway Foundation Trust had undertaken significant work in the last few years to support families of babies who had died. A new bereavement suite had opened at the hospital in the last couple of years. This excellent facility had been furnished by private providers and had space for families to stay. There were now dedicated bereavement midwives at the hospital and it was anticipated that one should be available at all times.

Attendance at future meeting – It was suggested that an update be provided to a future meeting with clinical staff asked to attend. This report would include information on bereavement care, Team Connect and foetal alcohol syndrome / support available as well as an update on the Kent and Medway Local Maternity System.

C Section infection and home births – Data on rates of infection data for Caesarean Section births would be provided to the Committee. It was confirmed that the Community Midwifery Team supported home births.

Decision

The Committee:

i)     Noted the offer families have to support them to have a healthy pregnancy.

ii)    Requested that an update report be presented to a future meeting of the Committee.

iii)   Requested that further information be circulated to the Committee, as set out in the minutes.

iv)  Requested that a letter of thanks be sent on behalf of the Committee to those responsible for the ‘Grow My Brain’ campaign.