Improving antenatal clinic services by focusing on a change in booking processes

Project completed as part of the 2024 Coventry and Warwickshire Green Team Competition. 

Team members

• Abbie Le-Blancq - ANC & MAU ward manager
• Emily Cornwall - Deputy Ops manager in maternity services
• Suganya Sukumaran - Lead consultant of obstetrics
• Natasha Stringer - Head of Midwifery 

Issue

The current antenatal appointment system at the trust involves duplicate appointments for low-risk women, causing inefficiencies, longer waiting times, additional carbon emissions, financial strain, and unnecessary travel.

Intervention: A multi-disciplinary team developed a new pathway eliminating the need for low-risk women to attend a repeat booking appointment. Healthcare assistants (HCAs) were trained to take blood samples, reducing midwifery workload. Low-risk women would attend their scan, have blood taken by HCAs, and be seen by a midwife for records review.

Outcomes:

• Environmental: Reduced emissions by 4,061 kgCO2e annually, mainly from reduced travel and unnecessary tests.
• Financial: £64,512 in cost and efficiency savings per year in midwifery appointment costs. £451 saved in reduced consumables.
• Clinical: Expected improvements in timeliness of care and person-centered care, with no reported complaints during the trial.
• Social: Reduced travel and waiting times for women, potentially improving job satisfaction for staff and supporting work-life balance for expectant mothers.

Key Learning Point: 

Engaging staff in process changes, such as training HCAs, and identifying inefficiencies in workflows can significantly reduce resource use and improve care delivery, although careful attention to staff training and scheduling is essential for sustained success.