Best Start

The National review of maternity and neonatal services Best start: five-year plan for maternity and neonatal care sets out a five-year forward plan for the improvement of maternity and neonatal services in Scotland.

All mothers and babies are offered family-centred, safe and compassionate care
Fathers, partners and other family members are supported and encouraged to become involved in all aspects of care
True continuity of care and carer across the whole maternity journey, with vulnerable families being offered any additional support they may require
Redesign of services, where necessary, to ensure optimal outcomes and sustainability, and to support normal birth processes, where possible, avoiding unnecessary interventions
Staff are empathetic, skilled and well supported to deliver high quality, safe services, every time
Multi-disciplinary teams working together to ensure the best possible care.

The Best Start report highlighted that families wanted to have a dedicated midwife/team throughout pregnancy and after birth. Mums said they saw different midwives throughout their pregnancy. The revised continuity of carer working model will ensure women are cared for by a named midwife/team throughout pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period, where possible.

To support this we are reviewing our workforce models and working towards a continuity model for all pregnancies in Tayside.

For more information please contact Tay.beststart@nhs.scot

Video: Continuity of Care