IPH response to Review of Maternity Services in Northern Ireland

IPH responded to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety consultation on a draft maternity strategy for Northern Ireland. The strategy contains a number of proposals, which, if implemented, will significantly change how maternity services are delivered in the future. The draft strategy aims to provide women, professionals, commissioners and policy makers with a clear pathway for maternity services from preconceptual care through to postnatal care.  It places an emphasis on early direct contact with a midwife and a better understanding of the role of the midwife and obstetricians. It sets out clear recommendations for tackling public health issues such as obesity, smoking and alcohol abuse in pregnancy; providing more choice; providing care closer to home and ensuring safe, high quality care tailored to meet the needs of the woman.

Guidelines for Maternity Services Liaison Committes (MSLCS) May 2009 (PDF 124 KB)

Guidelines for Maternity Services Liaison Committes

Audit of Maternity Services Executive Summary( PDF 915 KB)

Audit of Maternity Services Executive Summary

Audit of Acute Maternity Services (PDF 4894 KB)

Audit of Acute Maternity Services Final Report - October 2006

Maternity Services at the Jubilee and Royal Maternity Hospitals (PDF 54KB)

A Consultation Paper

HSE Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise Perinatal Deaths (2006-date)

The Minister for Health requested the Chief Medical Officer to prepare a Report for him on issues that arose following a Primetime Investigates programme relating to Portlaoise Hospital Maternity Services (PHMS) on 30th January 2014. This Report provides a preliminary assessment of PHMS focusing on perinatal deaths (2006-date) and related matters. Through a series of recommendations it sets out the need for further examination or actions where the findings of this preliminary assessment suggest such a need. It also makes clear who should be responsible for these further examinations or actions.   Download the Report

Saving Mothers' Lives 2006-2008

The eighth Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the UK investigates the deaths of 261 women who died in the triennium 2006-08, from causes directly or indirectly related to pregnancy. The full Report is available for purchase or download from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE; www.cmace.org.uk). Although every maternal death is a tragedy, particularly where avoidable factors were identified by the Enquiry process, the overall picture is encouraging. The maternal death rate in the UK continues to decline despite increasing pressures on maternity services and a changing maternal population. For the first time there has been a reduction in the inequalities gap between women living in different socio-economic circumstances, and timely production of guidelines and tools appears to have helped clinical staff to deliver improved clinical care.

A Strategy for Maternity Care in Northern Ireland 2012-2012 (PDF 634KB)

DHSSPS has carried out a review of policy on maternity service provision in Northern Ireland. The review focused on the best available evidence for the care and treatment of mothers-to-be; quality, safety and service sustainability; wider workforce issues; and professional roles and responsibilities. As a result, a draft strategy was developed, which was the subject of a public consultation from 28 September 2011 to 23 January 2012. Following an analysis of the responses to the consultation, the final strategy, A Strategy for Maternity Care in Northern Ireland 2012-2018, was published on 2 July 2012.

A New Centralised Maternity Hospital For Belfast (PDF 779KB)

A Consultation Paper

RQIA Review of the implementation of Promoting Quality Care (PQC) Good Practice Guidance on the Assessment and Management of Risk in Mental Health and Learning Disability Services (PDF1.07MB)

Overview Report October 2012

Improving Dementia Services in Northern Ireland - A Regional Strategy - November 2011

Improving Dementia Services in Northern Ireland - A Regional Strategy - November 2011