£3m funding to improve NHS brain damage tools and training

NHS maternity staff will benefit from a further £3m to improve the safety of the women and babies they care for, the Patient Safety Minister has announced today.

The funding will support the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and THIS Institute to deliver the second phase of a programme to reduce brain injuries at birth.

The first phase, announced in July 2021 included nearly £2m to develop tools and training to monitor and respond to a baby’s wellbeing during labour, and manage complications with babies’ positioning during caesarean sections.

Under today’s announcement, the RCOG, in partnership with the RCM and The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute at the University of Cambridge (THIS Institute), will develop a national programme to roll out tools and training products.

It will also seek to address workplace culture factors, such as ensuring midwives and obstetricians are working together to deliver safe care.

Patient Safety Minister Maria Caulfield said: “I want every mother and baby to get the best possible care and start to life and am committed to supporting our dedicated NHS staff to make positive changes, backed by over £5m of investment.

“The second phase of this vital programme will help us improve maternity care and prevent mothers and babies from suffering the trauma of a brain injury during birth.

“I thank the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for leading the work to roll out tools and training to support maternity teams to provide excellent care.”