An innovative project in Fife which aimed to bring about a marked reduction in the number of women suffering serious haemorrhages during childbirth has received national recognition.
NHS Fife’s work in improving safety for women giving birth who may be at risk of serious blood loss has been commended by NHS Scotland, with the health board taking home the Safe Award at this year’s NHS Scotland awards.
Serious haemorrhage in childbirth is not only extremely distressing for women and their families but worldwide it is a leading cause of maternal deaths.
Rates are also generally increasing, which prompted NHS Fife consultant obstetrician Dr Jennifer Boyd to develop a new approach in the region to try and tackle the problem.
The initiative has seen a 60% cut in the number of women suffering serious haemorrhages in Fife, while there has also been a fall in the number of less serious haemorrhages experienced.
Dr Boyd said: “This initiative has seen many different teams working together in Fife to reduce the risk of haemorrhage in labour.
“Whilst numbers of women experiencing severe haemorrhage are small, the impact of such an event can be extremely serious.
“Identifying women at potential risk at an early stage, and ensuring that there is reliable and safe care and management plans in place, has made a significant and positive difference.
“We are continuing to work to reduce risk factors for haemorrhage further, alongside improving antenatal health.”
Multidisciplinary teams within the maternity unit at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital have worked together to put structured processes in place to improve risk assessments and early recognition and response, ensuring that effective systems are in place to manage haemorrhages if they arise.
As a result, all women in labour, along with women undergoing an induction or elective Caesarean, now have their risk assessed throughout labour with clear accompanying care plans put in place.
In addition, staff across professional groups have undertaken training as part of the project, enhancing their skills further in the prevention and management of serious haemorrhage.
The team’s work was praised at the recent NHS Scotland event in Glasgow, with Dr Boyd accepting the Quality of Care – Safe Award from Paul Gray, chief executive of NHS Scotland and director general of health and social care.
The innovative project has also been recognised by the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare at its annual conference in London.
