MNSI response to Sands Fetal Movement Report 12 May 2025

We welcome the publication of Sands' "Improving information and guidance about fetal movements: a horizon scanning project" report. This important work aligns closely with key themes we've identified through our own maternity investigations and national learning reports.

The report's findings on standardised triage, consistent communication and the need for accessible information echo the systemic issues we've repeatedly identified in our investigations. We fully support the report's emphasis on three interconnected challenge areas: how core information is shared, accessibility of care and response when accessing services.

Standardised triage

The report correctly identifies standardised triage as a priority action. Our National Learning Report on risk assessment found that three of seven key themes related directly to triage effectiveness:

• Telephone triage services should provide 24-hour access to systematic structured risk assessment
• Triage should be operated by appropriately trained and competent clinicians skilled in telephone assessment
• Face-to-face triage should use a structured approach to prioritise clinical need

We strongly support the call for a national triage policy with a specific fetal movement element to ensure consistent, evidence-based care regardless of location or time of contact.

Effective communication

Communication challenges highlighted in the Sands report mirror our findings that:

• Varied risk assessment tools and recording methods compromise effective inter-professional communication
• Verbal and written handovers often fail to communicate a complete clinical picture
• Critical information is frequently lost when multiple healthcare professionals are involved without clear care coordination

The report's recommendation for consistent, detailed information in multiple formats alongside improved communication training for healthcare professionals is essential for addressing these systemic issues.

Innovation and technology

We are particularly interested in the report's emphasis on developing technologies such as wearable fetal movement trackers. We look forward to their continued development and robust evaluation to determine how they might enhance safety and provide reassurance for pregnant women and their babies.

Moving forward, we commit to incorporating these valuable insights into our investigative approach and will continue to work with our key stakeholders including Sands to improve safety in maternity care. Together, we can create a system where all families receive consistent, evidence-based information and timely access to appropriate care.