Spotlight on perinatal improvements

The Black Country Local Maternity and Neonatal System (BC LMNS) has completed an in-depth review of care provided to families following extremely pre-term births.

Findings from this review, which looked at 17 cases, will be shared with clinical teams this Thursday (17 July) as part of a launch event to improve care pathways across the region.

The review focused on babies born before 27 weeks of pregnancy (for single births), before 28 weeks (for twins or multiples), or those with an estimated birth weight under 800 grams. It identified a need for more joined-up learning from missed care opportunities and highlighted gaps in support systems that could help teams improve outcomes.

In response, BC LMNS has introduced a new Out of Pathway Review Tool (OPRT), designed to enhance early identification and prevention of pre-term births. A pilot programme began in June and will run for six months.

Helen Hurst, Chief Midwifery Officer for BC LMNS, explained: “Our region includes some of the country’s most deprived communities, and we face higher-than-average rates of perinatal mortality and pre-term births. We’ve already seen improvements after addressing how and where extremely pre-term babies are cared for, and the OPRT will help us take this further.”

The review and new initiatives reflect the system’s wider commitment to ensuring all mothers and babies—particularly those facing high-risk or premature birth—receive compassionate, informed, and high-quality care.

Fateh Ghazal, LMNS Obstetric Clinical Director, added: “By learning from each case and involving national experts, we aim to provide fair access to specialist care and empower families with the support they need during very challenging times.”