NSW Health WSLHD Safety & Quality Account 2020-21

Our Hospitals

Blacktown Paediatric ward opens. Dr Jessica Rainert (Paediatric Fellow), Dr Georgina Mata (Paediatrician), Stevie Mahe (6 y.o. patient).

The Safer Baby Bundle midwifery model of care was developed in response to the above initiative and the need for a midwife to coordinate, support and educate all clinicians working at Women’s and Children’s at Blacktown Hospital. Since the commencement of the program, a range of targeted initiatives have been implemented across WSLHD including implantation of screening and management tools for Fetal Growth and Decreased Fetal Movement; smoking cessation programs, patient education and development of Aboriginal specific maternity programs. Since the program began: • As a result of increased education and delivery of smoking cessation programs — women who have ceased smoking during the first half of pregnancy has increased from 21% of women in 2020 to 31% of women in 2022 — Smoking cessation at any time in pregnancy has improved from 20% in 2020 to 44% in 2022 • Final evaluation on impact of SAFER baby bundle project on preventable still births will take place in 2023.

Healthy Pregnancy (HP) Midwife Model of Care: Over the last 5 years there has been an 8% increase in the number of pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The Healthy Pregnancy midwifery model of care aims to support pregnant women to optimise health and wellbeing during pregnancy and improve health outcomes for women and their baby. Using a continuity of care mode, a midwife works with a pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes to promote an active pregnancy, food and nutrition, weight, and pregnancy to reduce the risk of stillbirth associated with smoking and diabetes. Safer Baby Bundle Initiative The Safer Baby Bundle is an initiative of the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) with five evidence-based elements to address key areas where improved practice can reduce the number of stillborn babies. The goal is to reduce the number of preventable stillbirths after 28 weeks’ gestation by 20% by 2023. Focus of the five elements of the Safer Baby Bundle initiative: 1. Smoking Cessation – reducing smoking in pregnancy 2. Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) – improving detection and management of impaired fetal growth 3. Decreased Fetal Movement (DFM) – increasing awareness and management 4. Side Sleeping - promoting safe sleeping during pregnancy 5. Timing of Birth (Every Week Counts) – improving decision-making around timing of birth for women with risk factors at term.

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