Maternity services in the UK during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a national survey of modifications to standard care.
BJOG
; 128(5): 880-889, 2021 04.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1119184
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the modifications to maternity services across the UK, in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, in the context of the pandemic guidance issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and NHS England.DESIGN:
National survey.SETTING:
UK maternity services during the COVID-19 pandemic. POPULATION OR SAMPLE Healthcare professionals working within maternity services.METHODS:
A national electronic survey was developed to investigate local modifications to general and specialist maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the context of the contemporaneous national pandemic guidance. After a pilot phase, the survey was distributed through professional networks by the RCOG and co-authors. The survey results were presented descriptively in tabular and graphic formats, with proportions compared using chi-square tests. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Service modifications made during the pandemic.RESULTS:
A total of 81 respondent sites, 42% of the 194 obstetric units in the UK, were included. They reported substantial and heterogeneous maternity service modifications. Seventy percent of units reported a reduction in antenatal appointments and 56% reported a reduction in postnatal appointments; 89% reported using remote consultation methods. A change to screening pathways for gestational diabetes mellitus was reported by 70%, and 59% had temporarily removed the offer of births at home or in a midwife-led unit. A reduction in emergency antenatal presentations was experienced by 86% of units.CONCLUSIONS:
This national survey documents the extensive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternity services in the UK. More research is needed to understand the impact on maternity outcomes and experience. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT A national survey showed that UK maternity services were modified extensively and heterogeneously in response to COVID-19.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Organizational Innovation
/
COVID-19
/
Maternal Health Services
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
BJOG
Journal subject:
Gynecology
/
Obstetrics
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
1471-0528.16547
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS