In August 2024, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust became the first in the region to share maternity data via the Great North Care Record (GNCR) and the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS), using the BadgerNet electronic patient record system. This innovation made Gateshead Health the first trust in the UK to share maternity data with other healthcare providers outside its organisation.
The integration allows healthcare professionals across the region to securely access real-time pregnancy information, such as risk factors, care plans, social context, take home medications and birth details. This significant step enhances continuity of care for pregnant individuals, ensuring that essential data is available across healthcare settings.
Transforming Maternity Care
Alice Butler, Lead Digital Midwife for Gateshead Health and NENC LMNS, described the shift to digital maternity records as transformational for maternity services. However previously, non-maternity services often lacked access to critical maternity information, which this system now provides. By making these records accessible across locations, the integration promotes safer and more efficient care
Lou Wilson, Head of Digital Strategy for LMNS, stressed the importance of having the right information at the right time, particularly in connecting maternity data between primary and secondary care. Dr Sangeetha Bommisetty, GP Partner at Beacon View Medical Centre, highlighted that this approach improves continuity of care, supporting better outcomes for mothers and babies.
Enhancing Accessibility
GNCR/LMNS also developed a maternity-specific patient information leaflet, created in collaboration with NENC LMNS. Available in multiple languages and an Easy Read format, it demonstrates the trust’s commitment to inclusivity and ensuring patients can understand how their data is used.
GNCR pulls together documentation from various systems, including BadgerNet, and presents it in a familiar format for healthcare professionals. This reduces the need for patients to repeatedly explain their medical history, saving time and improving efficiency.
A Collaborative Journey
The integration of maternity data into GNCR was identified early as a priority by healthcare partners. Alice Butler explained that the maternity dataset now allows clinicians to quickly access vital information, enabling them to offer safer care without asking patients to retell their story.
This is particularly beneficial in emergency care, where having access to maternity records can significantly improve outcomes. Emergency clinicians, who may previously have lacked this information, can now easily determine if a patient is pregnant, allowing for more informed and timely treatment decisions.
Looking Ahead
Gateshead Health’s efforts to integrate maternity data are part of a wider regional strategy to improve healthcare through digital innovation. Plans are in place to expand the dataset and replicate the integration with neonatal care, further enhancing patient safety.
This initiative is a testament to Gateshead Health’s commitment to improving healthcare services through collaboration, technology, and a focus on patient safety. As the GNCR project evolves, it sets a new standard for digital healthcare integration in the UK, supporting safer, more efficient care across the board.