We’re delighted to announce that the first East Lancashire ‘digital’ babies have been born at Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre.
Parents of the babies born at the centre in Burnley on Tuesday 7 December will be the first to use the new system for maternity services, accessible via a smartphone app or desktop computer. The system replaces the need for traditional written notes.
Caroline Cowman, Deputy Head of Midwifery at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are putting families at the heart of their maternity care and continually making improvements to our services to benefit the families we care for, and the staff caring for them. This new system, and portal, is a fantastic example of that.
“The app is easy to use and we are sure it will quickly become a useful part of our new parents’ post-natal journey.”
Sophie Wild from Crawshawbooth, mum of Wren Elizabeth Stead, one of the first ‘digital’ babies born in East Lancashire, said:
“I suffer from Epilepsy so it’s reassuring to know that all my medical records and details of my condition are to hand, in one central place. Any midwife, doctor or health visitor that I come into contact with will now be able to immediately access my notes – which will save me having to explain the same things over and over again.
“It’ll also be really convenient as people are always on their phones – I’ll no longer have to keep my notes to hand and take them to appointments.
The new system the Trust has introduced is called BadgerNet and features an online portal and app called Badger Notes. The system was made available to newly registered pregnant women from 9 November, and for new parents following giving birth from 7 December.
BadgerNet replaces paper records and gives parents immediate access to their maternity care records. It also allows them to add their own information such as birthing plans. The introduction is designed to empower families by giving them direct and easy access to their notes. Information can be shared to the new parents directly from the maternity system and records can be easily updated at each maternity visit.
Women access and book onto the maternity service via an online booking form. They are then assigned to a midwife and an appointment is generated. The online system removes the need for women to get an appointment with their GP before being referred through to the service, and ensures they can be seen by a midwife as soon as possible.
Women who do not have digital access, will be able to telephone the service to self-refer for their pregnancy care.
By June 2022, all expectant parents able to, should be using the ‘Badger Notes’ app and portal. For further information about the new online system click here.