This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Wide variation in maternity care across England, RCOG warns
There is wide variation in the care received by women giving birth in hospitals across England, according to a new report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).
The report was carried out in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and follows a review of more than 550,000 births.
55 per cent of first-time mothers were found to have some form of intervention during labour and delivery, and the report indicates that there is ‘considerable variation’ across maternity units in the types of intervention given and the outcomes these women experienced.
The rates of caesarean sections varied from eight per cent to 15 per cent across NHS trusts. Among first time mothers who had vaginal delivery, the rates of instrumental delivery varied from 19 per cent to 29 per cent across trusts, and the rates of first-time mothers who had an episiotomy varied between 29 per cent and 44 per cent.
While some variation in care is expected, the RCOG suggests that the levels of variation found suggests that some women are not getting the best possible care across the country and that NHS resources are not being used in the most efficient way.
The report also highlighted data quality issues, with over 10 per cent of trusts failing data quality checks.
Dr David Richmond, president of the RCOG, said: “We are concerned about the amount of variation identified in this report. Although the exact causes are difficult to establish, it is paramount that maternity units have information about their services, as well as the ability to compare themselves to the national average and to their peers.
“The RCOG is dedicated to creating a culture of openness and transparency within maternity and gynaecological care. With this information, maternity services, alongside commissioners, will be able to move towards identifying priority areas for reducing variation and further improving the safety and quality of care provided to women and their babies.”
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