Provision of acute medicine services for pregnant women in UK hospitals: Data from the Society for Acute Medicine Benchmarking Audit 2019.
Atkin, Catherine Prinja, Paarul Banerjee, Anita Holland, Mark Lasserson, Dan
Atkin, Catherine
Prinja, Paarul
Banerjee, Anita
Holland, Mark
Lasserson, Dan
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Affiliation
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust; University of Birmingham; Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
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Publication date
2020-06-23
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Abstract
Background: Medical problems during pregnancy are the leading cause of maternal mortality in the UK. Pregnant women often present through acute services to the medical team, requiring timely access to appropriate services, physicians trained to manage medical problems in pregnancy, with locally agreed guidance available.
Methods: Data were collected through the Society for Acute Medicine Benchmarking Audit, a national audit of service delivery and patient care in acute medicine over a 24 hour period.
Results: One hundred and thirty hospitals participated: 5.5% had an acute medicine consultant trained in obstetric medicine, and 38% of hospitals had a named lead for maternal medicine. This was not related to hospital size (p = 0.313). Sixty-four units had local guidelines for medical problems in pregnancy; 43% had a local guideline for venous thromboembolism in pregnancy. Centres with a named lead had more guidelines (p = 0.019).
Conclusion: Current provision of services within acute medicine for pregnant women does not meet national recommendations.
Citation
Atkin C, Prinja P, Banerjee A, Holland M, Lasserson D. Provision of acute medicine services for pregnant women in UK hospitals: Data from the Society for Acute Medicine Benchmarking Audit 2019. Obstet Med. 2021 Jun;14(2):83-88. doi: 10.1177/1753495X20929502.
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Article