Speaking at the NHS Maternity Conference hosted by Convenzis, the team behind the revolutionary, data-driven approach to maternity care showcase just how valuable data can be when it comes to healthcare for mothers and babies. 

Watch Athera Healthcare and MEaCC speak alongside other life-changing projects at the NHS Maternity Conference here. You can find our session 29 minutes into the recording.

The Maternity Challenge in Yorkshire & The Humber

Dr. Deborah Horner, a consultant in anaesthesia and critical care, emphasises the rising national trend of maternal deaths during childbirth:

When looking at a national picture, the number of cases where women have died, but which could have been prevented through better care, is increasing.  

The MEACC project aims to address this pressing issue by recognising and catering to the needs of seriously ill pregnant or recently pregnant women.

What is Enhanced Maternity Care (EMC)? 

Dr. Horner describes the challenge of finding the middle ground between critical care and maternity units; “there is an increasing trend to separate maternity units from main services” which she explains has posed obstacles to seamless care. 

The project, therefore, proposes an “Enhanced Care” approach for women who require more attention, without having to transition to critical care. This enhanced care approach needs to be built from a foundation of data, showing exactly how EMC is provided across the region, maternal and neonatal outcomes, and the impact on maternity services.

MEaCC Project: Three Pillars of Transformation

Elizabeth Audsley, Quality Improvement Lead for the Yorkshire & The Humber Maternity Clinical Network, outlines the three key aims of the MEACC project. 

1. Training

Training forms the cornerstone, focusing on standard and enhanced competency training. Midwives will receive a competency passport, documenting their skills individually and facilitating seamless transitions when moving units.

2. Data Collection

Realising the complexity of identifying the point at which care deviates from standard practices, the project initiated a pilot study in 2019. Recognizing the need for a data portal, the Yorkshire & The Humber Clinical Maternity Network funded the development of a platform with Net Solving to capture real-time data. 

3. Partnership for Improved Outcomes

Because of this complexity, something more than simple data collection was needed. Mark Pridmore, Head of Business Development and Strategy at Net Solving, underscores our dedication to creating true partnerships with clients. Mark explains how Net Solving’s role involves providing in-house data specialists, a dedicated UK support team, and empowerment to ensure success is achieved. 

Key Findings and Progress

The MEaCC project, through a 2019 pilot study, identified the most common reasons for requiring EMC, including hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, and sepsis. Surprisingly, the data challenged preconceptions, revealing that the biggest indirect cause is cardiac issues rather than age or BMI. The project also aims to validate a risk prediction tool for EMC admission and outcomes.

The MEaCC data platform, developed by Net Solving,  is divided into six sections, covering demographics, EMC activity, level of EMC support, physiological data, delivery details, and outcomes/follow-up. Confidentiality is maintained, with each unit having access to its own data for use by midwives during care provision.

Moving Forward: A Nationwide Initiative?

The ultimate goal is to incorporate these data-driven initiatives into a national system. While there is no immediate sign of this happening, the project welcomes participation from other regions. Units or networks interested in collecting real-time data can join the initiative, and the associated costs are not prohibitive.

The MEaCC project offers a glimpse into the future of healthcare, where data-driven insights lead to better outcomes for mothers and babies. As the initiative continues to evolve, it promises not only improved care for seriously ill pregnant women but also a blueprint for advancing maternity services on a national scale.

If you’re a maternity team interested in joining the project, get in touch. 

Or, if you’re looking to utilise data for your own project, speak to mark.pridmore@atherahealthcare.com to explore how our partnership will enable you to reach your goals.