Aim

The SCN will facilitate the creation of a service blueprint that reconciles the concepts of informed choice and the management of clinical risk.

Outcomes

The SCN will create a series of clinical guidelines that detail the management of low risk through high risk pregnancies. They will be used by the region’s two Local Maternity Systems to develop models of care that afford women and their families access to informed choice and clinically appropriate services.

Role of the NWC SCN

The SCN will create a series of expert working groups made up of relevant clinicians (e.g. Heads of Midwifery) to create a care pathway that reconciles the concepts of informed choice with the management of risk.  The network will review existing care pathways and service specifications (both local and national) along with national guidance and current best practice to support the Local Maternity Systems in their efforts to implement the recommendations made within the Better Births report.

Partners and associates in this work

Lancashire Maternity & Children’s Commissioning Network, Cheshire and Merseyside (C&M) Critical Care Network, C&M Neonatal Network, Maternity Clinical Expert Group,  All maternity providers, Health & Wellbeing boards, All Commissioning bodies, C&M Critical Care Network, C&M Neonatal Network, NHS England (The Maternity Review & Women’s Health Acute Medical Directorate), Cheshire & Merseyside Acute Care Collaboration Women & Children’s Partnership, Cheshire & Merseyside Personalisation and Choice Maternity Pioneer.

Summary of project plan

Main activities and milestones:

Q1

• Establish a Heads of Midwifery working group within Cheshire and Merseyside.
• Carry out a stakeholder analysis within Lancashire & South Cumbria.
• Agree clinical leadership within Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Q2

• Collate and analyse local and national service specifications for maternity services for low and high risk pregnancies.
• Align the ongoing work to create the blueprint with other regional partners (e.g. the Cheshire & Merseyside Acute Care Collaboration Women & Children’s Partnership and the Cheshire & Merseyside Personalisation and Choice Maternity Pioneer).

Q3

• Draft the service blueprint.

Q4

• Consult with regional stakeholders about the adoption of the blueprint within the region’s two Local Maternity Systems.