Project Update
Version 4 of the SWHMR was published in January 2008. A pdf of all sections of the record can be found here. NHS QIS provided NHS Boards in Scotland with a small stock for training purposes and each Board was given a CD-Rom of the SWHMR to allow them to arrange their own print run and supplies. Additional support materials were also developed, which include a frequently asked questions leaflet, guidance for professionals, and an information leaflet for women (translated into 9 languages). These can be found here
The Scottish Government has agreed that NHS QIS should continue to manage the evolution of the SWHMR. Therefore NHS QIS is forming a multi-professional SWHMR steering group which will have representation from across NHSScotland. This group will provide advice on the form of the SWHMR evaluation, consider the outcomes of the evaluation, agree future amendments to the record, engage stakeholders, and seek information from and share information with NHSScotland. The first meeting of this group will be in July 2008 after which further information will be available.
Background to the SWHMR
A unified maternity record for Scotland was an aspiration for women, service providers and healthcare professionals for many years. A Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland, reiterated the case for such a record, and made it a priority:
'There should be a national, unified and standardised woman-held maternity record that is available and accessible to both women and professionals.'
(Scottish Executive Health Department - SEHD, 2001: 71)
A Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland (SEHD 2001)
As part of the implementation of the Framework, the SWHMR Project was established to design such a record. The SWHMR project commenced in November 2002 within the former Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development Unit (NMPDU) – now NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. Core funding was made available from the Chief Nursing Officer. Version 1 of the SWHMR launched in 2005 by the Chief Nursing Officer.
In the Autumn of 2006 the original version of the SWHMR (version 1, 2004) underwent some minor updating and revision following consultation with the lead midwives of Scotland group. These amendments were made by the Practice Development Unit at NHS QIS and led to the production of version 2, 2006 of the SWHMR. An initial six month print run for all maternity units across Scotland was produced by NHS QIS and distributed to all the NHS Boards in February 2007.
A Health Department Letter (HDL (2007) 7) was sent to all NHS Boards in February 2007 by the Chief Nursing Officer, Paul Martin. This letter signaled that the SWHMR should be fully implemented by all NHS Boards by 31 May 2007.
Feedback on the new record and on implementation was sought by NHS QIS from March 2007. In response to this feedback, NHS QIS established a national solutions group which met in July 2007. The group included representation from all NHS Boards in Scotland and all maternity professions to find solutions to the issues identified during the implementation process.
The solutions group event in July 2007 produced four action plans to facilitate the on-going successful implementation of the SWHMR. These action plans are available on request from swhmrpdu.qis@nhs.net
Antenatal, Intrapartum, Postnatal and Neonatal subgroups were established to finalise any amendments required and these groups completed their work in September 2007.
In October 2007 NHS QIS amended the SWHMR as recommended by the solutions group. The amended version (version 3, 2007) had a short pilot in three maternity sites in NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian from October- November 2007. The consultation and pilot led to some further amendments of the SWHMR and to the development of version 4. Version 4 of the SWHMR was launched across NHSScotland in January 2008.
Project Contacts
General enquiries:
swhmrpdu.qis@nhs.net
Professional Officer:
Fiona Dagge-Bell,
professional practice development officer
0131 623 4340
Fiona.Dagge-Bell@nhs.net
Project Support:
Joanne McDonald,
practice development project co-ordinator
0131 623 4350
Joanne.McDonald@nhs.net
