Maternity Triage at Walsall Manor Hospital will be running differently from next week in a move aimed at seeing mums-to-be and postnatal women more quickly and ensuring any clinical needs are prioritised.

Triage is an assessment area staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for women who need additional care or checks. It is also used by women worried about reduced fetal movements or those who experience bleeding or abdominal pain.

From Monday 1 November 2021 , Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust will adopt the BSOTS (Birmingham Symptom Specific Obstetric Triage System) when women attend Maternity Triage. This was developed regionally by maternity staff following clinical colleagues’ concerns over maternity triage departments. The BSOTS approach was  co-produced by clinicians at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and researchers at The University of Birmingham and is supported by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) and the (Royal College of Midwives) RCM and used nationally.

The system has won several awards for safety and also improved experience by mothers and maternity staff.

BSOTS will see two midwives in triage all the time and a clear systematic prioritisation of women to ensure that women in greatest need receive midwifery and medical attention based on the reasons why they attend the unit. Communication at handover will also be improved by being more structured and consistent.

Leanne O’Flaherty, Walsall Healthcare Inpatients Matron, said: “An effective triage system in maternity care is vital to the pregnant women who use our services so that we can ensure they are seen in a timely manner and given appropriate care for their needs.

“It is like a 24 hour safety net for any concerns they have that could affect their baby’s health and wellbeing. We are pleased to be able to start using BSOTS from next week which will ensure a more efficient triage system, better experience for our women and a more supportive environment for our midwives.”