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Maternity services in the UK during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a national survey of modifications to standard care

Jardine, J; Relph, S; Magee, LA; von Dadelszen, P; Morris, E; Ross-Davie, M; Draycott, T; Khalil, A (2021) Maternity services in the UK during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a national survey of modifications to standard care. BJOG, 128 (5). pp. 880-889. ISSN 1471-0528 https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.16547
SGUL Authors: Khalil, Asma

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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 outcome measures 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.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: © 2020 The Authors. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords: COVID-19, maternity, service modifications, workforce survey, 11 Medical and Health Sciences, Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
SGUL Research Institute / Research Centre: Academic Structure > Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute (MCS)
Journal or Publication Title: BJOG
ISSN: 1471-0528
Language: eng
Dates:
DateEvent
5 March 2021Published
5 November 2020Published Online
20 August 2020Accepted
Publisher License: Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
PubMed ID: 32992408
Go to PubMed abstract
URI: https://openaccess.sgul.ac.uk/id/eprint/112448
Publisher's version: https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.16547

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