Safety spotlight
A woman in her third trimester of pregnancy was cared for in a surgical area of the hospital following a non-pregnancy related surgical procedure. During her recovery, she went into labour; there were delays in recognising her condition and in assessing the wellbeing of the baby, who died before birth. Nursing staff did not have clear guidance, support, or easy access to midwifery/obstetric teams or care plans to help them care for the woman safely.
Safety prompts:
The nursing staff on the surgical ward did not have adequate support or information to prepare them to care for a woman in the late stages of pregnancy.
- What aids/guidance are available in your trust to help nursing staff better care for pregnant women (of any gestation) when on a non-maternity ward and when to call for help or seek further guidance?
- How do staff on a non-maternity ward in your trust know how to call for assistance from the midwifery/obstetric team when they need help with a pregnant woman on their ward? Are there any visual aids near the telephone, for example, to support the correct people being contacted?
- How, in your trust, are nursing staff supported to access obstetric/midwifery plans when a pregnant woman is being cared for on a ward outside of the maternity department?
There was no joint care planning between other specialty and obstetric doctors, in relation to the ongoing care to be provided to the woman after her procedure.
- How, in your trust, is joint care planning and obstetric oversight ensured for women that are being cared for in areas outside of the maternity department, even if women have no complications with their pregnancy?