Maternity Services National Overview and Local Reports resulted from this project and were published in January 2007.
Key dates
Review visit start date:
Stage 3 - review visit schedule (w/b 7 November 2005 - w/b 19 June 2006)
Key contacts
Project Officer: Sharon Keane, tel: 0131 623 4304
Project Officer: Avril MacLennon, tel: 0131 623 4372
Senior Project Officer: Morag Kasmi, tel: 0131 623 4344
Team Manager: Steven Wilson, tel 1031 623 4303
Aims and objectives
To develop clinical standards that support quality assurance for maternity services within Scotland. The standards for maternity services apply to the period between confirmation on of pregnancy, through until the baby is 6-8 weeks old and apply only to NHS services. Independent midwives would be encouraged to use the standards in relation to their own practice where applicable. These standards therefore cover the following areas:
- Core Principles
- Pre-conception and Very Early Pregnancy
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth
- Postnatal and Parenthood
The standards will be used by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) to assess performance in these areas in NHS Boards throughout Scotland where maternity services are provided.
Project history
Background: Following the principles outlined in the Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland, NHS QIS set up a project group to develop standards that would reinforce the principles stated in the Framework for maternity services and allow their implementation to be monitored and audited. NHS QIS appointed a maternity project group, chaired by Dr Jane Magill, Director, Robert Clark Centre for Technological Education, University of Glasgow. The group was multidisciplinary and included healthcare professionals and members of the public. The group first met in June 2002. Draft standards were published in February 2004 and wide consultation was carried out from March - May 2004. The final NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Clinical Standards for Maternity Services were published in March 2005.