Report on Perinatal Statistics for 1999

The principal aim of the National Perinatal Reporting Scheme (NPRS) is the provision of national statistics on perinatal events. Since 1999, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has been contracted by the Department of Health and Children to oversee the collection, processing, management and reporting of data submitted to the NPRS. In this report, data on pregnancy outcomes, with particular reference to perinatal mortality and important aspects of perinatal care, are presented for 1999. In addition, descriptive social and biological characteristics of mothers giving birth and babies born in 1999 are recorded. Download document here

Saving Mothers' Lives 2003-2005

This, the seventh Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom (UK) enquires into maternal deaths and has a new title, "Saving Mothers' Lives". The change has been made to more accurately reflect the purpose of this, the longest running example of a maternal death review in the world. The Enquiry's aim is to stimulate and promote beneficial clinical actions and health and social service changes that will save yet more mothers' and babies' lives in future. By acting on the recommendations and results contained in the Report, the inequalities in pregnancy outcomes that currently exist between the most advantaged and most vulnerable and excluded mothers and babies in society should reduce, as should the numbers of those who suffer the consequences of severe morbidity.In addition, and perhaps of most importance, all mothers, infants and families will benefit from accessiblematernity services whose staff are proud to provide them with the safest and best possible individualised care that meets all their medical and other needs.

IPH response to NICE consultation on new indicators for Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)

IPH responded to the consultation on potential new indicators for the 2013/14 Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) in the UK. The 20 potential new indicators relate to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, coronary heart disease, diabetes, depression, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and cancer. The consultation asked people to consider whether there were any barriers to the implementation of the care described by any of the indicators; whether there were potential unintended consequences to the implementation of any of the indicators; whether there was potential for differential impact (in respect of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation); and whether the indicators may have an adverse impact in different groups in the community.”

Diabetes in pregnancy: are we providing the best care?

This third and final report of the CEMACH national diabetes programme comes at an important time in the national drive to improve services for women with diabetes in pregnancy. The National Service Framework (NSF) for Diabetes requires the NHS to develop, implement and monitor policies that seek to empower and support women with diabetes to optimise the outcomes of their pregnancy. The CEMACH report shows that, whilst progress has been made in improving services for women with diabetes and their babies, there is much still to be done to meet the standards recommended by the NSF. Too many women continue to be poorly prepared for pregnancy in the critical areas of glycaemic control and folic acid supplementation. The report underlines the need for an increased focus on diabetes preconception care services and the development of strategies to educate women with diabetes of childbearing age. The growing proportion of women with type 2 diabetes during pregnancy, many of whom are from minority ethnic groups, presents an additional challenge for health services in developing responsive and accessible services.This CEMACH report has identifi ed several areas of good clinical practice during pregnancy in women with pre-existing diabetes. However, there continue to be areas where there is room for improvement, including antenatal fetal surveillance, glycaemic control during labour and delivery and postnatal diabetes care. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently in the fi nal stages of development of its new guideline for the management of diabetes in pregnancy. This guideline, when taken together with the CEMACH report, will provide local health services with an unprecedented wealth of material on which to base their development of improved services for women with diabetes in pregnancy.��