CHAPTER 22 - Key indicators

Summary

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published its document Standards in Maternity Care in 2008 which is being used widely by commissioners, providers and policy makers. The document sets out the principles of quality-assured maternity services. This chapter identifies some key indicators as exemplars, although it is recommended to make use of the whole document. Prepregnancy care for women with social needs is essential. Prepregnancy care can improve outcomes in high-risk pregnancies regardless of whether the high-risk status is of medical or social aetiology. From a public health perspective, the identification of anomalies can improve perinatal morbidity and mortality, as conditions may be identified early in pregnancy and managed accordingly. Current approaches for the prevention of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy include antenatal identification and monitoring of fetal growth restriction and electronic fetal monitoring accompanied by intrapartum fetal blood sampling.