Kate Brintworth, Head of Maternity - East London Health and Care Partnership, introduced the item.  As part of the Five Year Forward View the Maternity Transformation Board was set up by NHS England to ensure recommendations from the Better Births Review were delivered. Key areas of action included, reducing still birth, learning, ensuring women have a better experience of care, continuity of care and the option to give birth in a midwifery setting. 

It was recognised that collective action would be required to meet the new standards so Local Maternity Systems were introduced to take leadership and action. The East London Local Maternity System (ELMS) provided a report on their activities over 2016/17.

With reference to page 55 of the reports pack, Councillor Ann Munn asked to learn more about the new models of cross boundary working. The Chair of the East London LMS used the Neighbourhood Midwives social enterprise as an example where there is continuity of care throughout pregnancy to six weeks after birth. 

Councillor Ben Hayhurst asked how continuity of processes is maintained when they have five hospital sites across the patch and the trust is a separate entity.

Ms Brintworth explained that communication between the sites is good because there is an existing network in place that regularly meets. There are five delivery packs used across the sites which have been standardised to save £80,000.

Councillor Susan Masters queried how the ELMS programme will be funded over the next five years. Tracey Fletcher, Chief Executive of Homerton Hospital, explained an NHS England bid for £7.5 million has been submitted and feedback on the bid will be given in the New Year.

There was a discussion on the flow of patients across London. Ms Fletcher informed the group that a piece of research has been conducted on demand levels but it was very difficult to specify what birth numbers would be due to changing demographics. She said the birth rate is expected to go up but this is unlikely to be by a huge amount. This year there were 2000 less births than the 5000 predicted. There has been a recent trend in more women, particularly from Hackney, choosing to go to north east London hospitals such as the new University College London Hospital (UCLH).

Representatives from Homerton Hospital acknowledged Hackney’s changing demographics. They said they needed to challenge the local perception that new hospitals like UCLH had better maternity care because on the whole UCLH and Homerton provide a comparable service.

The discussion moved on to maternal mortality rates. Councillor Hayhurst suggested the death rate being higher in east London may be driving patients away. Ms Brintworth explained that the mortality rate is relatively low considering the number of high risk cases that are presented. East London hospitals are seeing an increase in the number of older women, diabetic women, obese women and women diagnosed with cancer choosing to give birth. These factors can influence the maternal mortality rate.

Councillor Hayhurst asked what measures were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5