NHS Highland introducing paperless maternity notes
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Pregnant women being cared for in NHS Highland hospitals will be able to access their maternity medical notes digitally via a PC, tablet or mobile device.
Available to expectant mums and to their health professionals, the new digital maternity notes system known as BadgerNet is being made available both as a secure online portal and through the Maternity Notes app.
It means healthcare professionals and pregnant women will have access to the clinical information they require from anywhere there is internet coverage, at the touch of a button.
The secure digital record replaces the board’s old paper hand-held maternity notes including details of any blood test results, reminders about appointments and scan reports. This development is part of the board’s move towards an electronic patients record.
The BadgerNet system is being rolled out in a phased approach beginning with Argyll and Bute this week. It will go live across community services in the north Highlands on Monday, December 2, and in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, in January 2020.
While health professionals will have their own laptops, expectant mums will be able to access BadgerNet using their own PC, tablet or mobile device. All they need to do to is log in using their secure password and username, and everything is there at their fingertips.
NHS Highland says it is "a great stride forward" for a number of reasons:
- BadgerNet’s maternity notes will replace the old paper hand-held notes, meaning that notes are easier to access and transport and can be kept more secure
- Information can be shared with users directly from the maternity system
- Records can be easily updated at each maternity visit or appointment
- Midwives do not have to double-enter data onto paper hand-held notes as well as electronic systems
- Only those with the correct login details are able to access the notes
- Significantly less paper is used, reducing unnecessary waste and the impact it has on the environment
Pregnant women are also welcome to add information so that the healthcare professionals supporting their pregnancy can be made aware of any preferences regarding their birth plan. For example, it will be possible to add information about allergies and other relevant health issues prior to booking.
NHS Highland’s interim head of midwifery, Mary Burnside, said: “The introduction of digital notes is a step forward for our service in a number of different ways. A secure login for access ensures peace of mind for mothers, as only the mothers themselves or qualified healthcare professionals are able to read their record.
“Maternity notes will not need to be carried – preventing them getting lost – and the new digital format provides easy access for mothers wherever they might be. Even if they are in another country, all that is required is a connection and login.
“This is a great development for NHS Highland and we are so pleased to be able to provide this service for expectant mothers who choose to come to our hospitals for the birth of their babies. BadgerNet should make life easier for both mothers and healthcare workers, bringing our maternity services forward and enhancing accessibility and data security.”
