Recommendation 8 Efficient Digital Infrastructure for Recording, Monitoring and Evaluating PPC Services Services should invest in and make use of digital technology, using shared electronic records to improve the patient experience and make it easier for staff. Patient satisfaction should be central to this and form a baseline for service improvement. • Services should consider using a contraceptive plan to record discussions, decisions and experiences of the patient to ensure continuity of service. • Services should embed robust monitoring, auditing and evaluation frameworks to ensure continuous improvement. Eliciting patient feedback should be routine and central part of service monitoring. • Ensure that staff and patients are aware of the NHS digital inclusion framework to ensure that all women can access digitally available information on contraception and book appointments via the NHS app. 39 To ease the women’s journey, the South Tees PPC service recommend a specific section within pregnancy notes to document discussion of contraception and the woman’s choices. This would then be obvious to the hospital midwives who would be able to ensure the contraception is provided without the woman having to remember to ask prior to discharge. Establishing a digital central repository or knowledge hub for PPC best practice was recommended to ensure innovations are not siloed and that learning informs policy and future workforce development nationally.
“Electronic maternity records that prompt or guide PPC conversations ensure that opportunities are not missed, even in time-constrained environments. Exploring further digital innovations such as remote contraceptive counselling, video tutorials, and app-based follow-ups can further modernise and extend midwifery-led Another crucial lesson that emerged from Gloucestershire was the need to evaluate and share outcomes and best practice from their pilot sites. A robust audit system was established from the beginning to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and equity of the service, ensuring ongoing monitoring and continuous quality improvement. “Capturing data on uptake, equity of access, clinical outcomes, and women’s satisfaction not only shows value and strengthens arguments for continued funding but also informs scalable, evidence-based practice.” Specialist Midwife, Gloucestershire contraceptive services.” Specialist Midwife, Gloucestershire Exploring additional digital innovations such as remote contraceptive counselling, video tutorials, and app-based follow-ups can further modernise and extend midwifery- led contraceptive services, initiatives which align with the Government’s aim to provide patients with 24/7 advice and guidance via the NHS app as outlined in its 10 Year Plan . The Wirral PPC service utilised technology in other ways, to ensure ensuring women attended their appointments: “A mobile phone was provided. The clerk contacts clients to remind them about their appointment a day or two prior to their
arranged appointment.” Contraception Midwife, The Wirral
Finally, facilitating the use of technology at national level is key to sharing best practice to other areas across the UK. Contributors were enthusiastic to share with us their own experiences of providing PPC, both successful and unsuccessful. It is striking the volume of existing quality resources which could aid a service’s operations.
39 Inclusive digital healthcare: a framework for NHS action on digital inclusion
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