The SWMMN has collaborated with Retrieve, the dedicated critical care transfer service for the South West.

Pregnant women may require transfer around the region for a variety of reasons, including for pregnancy-related issues such as peri-partum cardiomyopathy requiring specialist cardiac care, or issues unrelated to pregnancy, such as major trauma.

Resources that have been developed in collaboration are now available to healthcare professionals on the Retrieve website, to ensure teams are equipped with the necessary skills and resources to manage these transfers safely. These will be updated to align with the Intensive Care Society Maternal Critical Care Transfer guidelines when they are published later in 2024.

Drs Jenny Blackman and Richard Keedwell have delivered training sessions for Retrieve team members in Cornwall, and Associate Professor Christy Burden, Stacy Hazlehurst and Drs Amanda Hill and Fran Neuberger have delivered training in Bristol.