Key indicators

Abstract

The RCOG published its document Standards in Maternity Care in 2008 and is being used widely by commissioners, providers and policy makers. It sets out the principles of quality-assured maternity services. This section identifies some key indicators as exemplars, although we recommend that you make use of the whole document. ✓ When developing a local maternity services strategy, involve all interested parties (patients, staff and commissioners) and take information from regulators and standard-setting bodies. ✓ Patients expect and value safety above everything else. ✓ When implementing change, form multidisciplinary teams around the processes that need changing and encourage those with expertise to step forward and become leaders. Prepregnancy care for women with social needs ✓ Prepregnancy care for women with social needs is essential. It should promote social and physical stability and wellbeing before conception. ✓ Prepregnancy care can improve outcomes in high-risk pregnancies regardless of whether the high-risk status is of medical or social aetiology. ✓ Women who are socially disadvantaged do not seek advice through routine health channels. Multidisciplinary agencies already providing services for such women should be trained in needs assessment and delivery of basic components of prepregnancy care and should collaborate with reproductive healthcare services to ensure routine provision of prepregnancy care for all women with whom they are in contact.