Pregnant women in Forth Valley will soon be able to access a summary of their maternity notes through their PC, tablet or iOS device (an android app is also being developed). The secure system will mean they no longer have to carry hard copies of their maternity notes.

The paperless scheme, known as BadgerNet, will be launched on the 28^th August 2017 for all women accessing maternity services in Forth Valley from that date. This new system will also enable women to access and complete their birthplan online. Other benefits include access to national and local information such as Ready, Steady, Baby and health advice. In addition, women can contribute to their own record, and anything added can be discussed at their next next midwifery appointment.

Val Arbuckle, NHS Forth Valley Additional Support Midwifery Sister and implementation lead for the new system, explained: “BadgerNet is an electronic record which will be used by local maternity unit staff caring for women during their pregnancy. It means women will no longer have to remember to bring their notes to each appointment and midwives and clinicians involved in their care will have real-time access to their maternity records. These can be easily updated at each maternity visit or appointment, in either a community or hospital setting.”

 To ensure the service has all the relevant information required to develop an electronic maternity record pregnant women can email the service on pregnantfv@nhs.net  to request their first appointment with a midwife. An automatic response will be sent which will include a template to be completed with all the relevant information. Alternatively, if they  phone the maternity unit on 01324 567146  to make a first appointment they will be asked a number of questions to help create the new electronic record.

All information is held securely and cannot be accessed without the appropriate login details (similar to internet banking). Registration details and how to access maternity records either by an app or via the internet will be given at the first booking appointment and will also be available on the NHS Forth Valley website www.nhsforthvalley.com

There is also an opt-out feature available for those mums who do not have internet access. In these cases women will be given a summary note of their electronic maternity record.

Val Arbuckle added: “Badgernet is expected to save a great deal of time for midwives and clinicians as they currently have to handwrite pregnancy notes onto paper as well as input data into a computer system. This new technology will free them up to spend more time with women and less time on administration. Many women use computers, tablets and iOS devices these days and we hope that by introducing the new service, it will make it easier and more convenient for woman to access information and monitor the progress of their pregnancy.”

Pictured – Stacey Duffy and Baby Erin Louise born 29^th July 2017 and NHS Forth Valley midwife Gillian Spence.