The SWMMN was established in September 2022.
It provides advice, guidance and care for women and birthing people, living in the Southwest region, who have pre-existing (or newly diagnosed in pregnancy) medical conditions. The aim being to provide care locally as much as possible.
The details for the provision of a maternal medicine network are outlined in the national service specification.
Referral pathways reflect the national referral pathways but are also localised to recognise the expertise already within the South West region and the vastness of the geography covered by the network.
Therefore, in addition to the maternal medicine centre (MMC), which spans North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, there are also other regional units (RU) within the network footprint that can manage women and birthing people with certain medical conditions that would otherwise require management and delivery within an MMC.
(Cat A on national specification pathways)
(Cat B on national specification pathways)
(Cat C on national specification pathways)
Referrals are triaged within the week of receipt and are allocated to an online Teams MDT for further discussion. There are 4 MDTs:
Referrers are encouraged to attend to discuss their case. Access to the MDT is granted by the SWMMN Support Manager.
The outcome from the MDT could include advice and guidance on management via an MDT plan, an appointment to be seen in a clinic within the MMC or RU, or (rarely) transferral of care to the MMC or RU.
Governance, morbidity, and mortality meetings are held quarterly via Microsoft teams.
Data on referrals and outcomes of referrals are discussed as well as being reported via reporting structures regionally and nationally.
Cases of morbidity or mortality regionally are discussed in addition. Providers within the network are encouraged to submit and present cases for shared learning.
Calendar invites are sent to all members of the network but can also be requested from the SWMMN Support Manager.
