Perinatal Collaborative Transport Study (CoTS) (PDF, 266K, 28secs)
Perinatal Collaborative Transport Study (CoTS) (Word, 586, 42secs)
About the report
The in-utero transport (IUT) of a fetus is a universally accepted method of ensuring that a pregnant woman is in the correct facility to receive appropriate medical or obstetric care for her and, if indicated, neonatal care for the newborn infant. This element of obstetric and midwifery care requires staff time and service infrastructure that has not previously been defined.
With the support of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS), a Scotland-wide study was undertaken of all IUTs occurring during the six month period, 21st August 2006 until 25th February 2007. Forty one units delivering infants in Scotland participated, including the 22 Community Midwifery Units (CMUs) which are central to the delivery of midwifery care in Scotland.
The original aims of the study were:
- to establish the number of in-utero transfers (IUTs) in Scotland, analysing them according to clinical issues and decision making processes.
- to make recommendations about the need to have a “joined up service” offering advice and co-ordination for both in-utero and ex-utero transfers.
- to understand the toll on the families of mothers subjected to IUT, financially and in terms of the effect of the displacement (e.g. childcare, work, etc)
Following a decision by the project steering group (Appendix 11.2) that the third aim above required a longer term follow up of all the families involved using a retrospective questionnaire based study, this aim was dropped from the current study. However, additional funding was received from BLISS, the National Charity for the Newborn, to fund this aspect of the study and this work is underway, with a report expected in summer 2008.
Data on all IUTs into and out of each participating unit were collected using questionnaires designed specifically for this study. Further information on the number of staffed neonatal cots available and day to day variations in occupancy was also collected from regional neonatal centres.
