Welsh Ambulance Service introduces new maternity ‘red phone’ initiative

The Welsh Ambulance Service has launched a new system to pre-alert hospital staff about maternity emergencies.

The ‘red phone’ initiative allows ambulance crews to forewarn maternity units about time-critical obstetric emergencies so that receiving teams are prepared for the patient’s arrival.

The clinician-to-clinician conversations – via a dedicated phone line – are designed to streamline communication between ambulance crews and hospital staff and further improve the patient’s care.

“Every second counts in an emergency, so the more information we can relay to the maternity unit, the better they can prepare by calling in the right clinicians and organising everything they need to deliver emergency care,” explained Bethan Jones, Perinatal Safety Champion and Midwife at the Welsh Ambulance Service.

“The red phone enables us to do just that, acting as a single point of access to obstetric units, improving communication which in turn will enable us to deliver high-quality and timely care for the patient and their baby.

“The Health Services Safety Investigations Body report published in 2022 underlined the importance of the pre-alert process in time-critical maternity situations, and this work supports a pro-active and system-led approach to developing solutions.”

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is the fourth Welsh health board to join the initiative, joining Hywel Dda, Aneurin Bevan and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Boards.

Cerian Llewellyn, Interim Head of Midwifery at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “The health, safety and wellbeing of the women giving birth in our care is at the very heart of what we do.

“We are always looking at ways of building trust and ensuring that the women we care for and their families have the very best experience during their time with us.

“The red phone initiative supports us to enhance effective communication between the clinicians on the maternity unit and our colleagues at WAST and helps to ensure high-quality, safe and effective care and we are delighted to be a part of it.

“The red phone initiative means we can be well-prepared for any women in labour who come to us needing more complex medical support while they give birth.”

Calls are made by ambulance crews direct to obstetric units via the Consultant Connect app.

Jonathan Patrick, Chief Executive at Consultant Connect, said: “This red phone initiative will mean that hospitals in Wales are well prepared for emergency obstetric situations, giving mothers and their babies the best care possible when they face unexpected problems.

“We have always known that NHS Wales is serious about improving clinical communications, and this is yet another example of how it is improving patient care by making sure clinicians get the information they need in a timely fashion.

“We are proud to work with them.”

The red phone protocol is the latest initiative introduced by the Welsh Ambulance Service to improve the care it provides to new parents, their babies and their families.

Every ambulance and response car in the Trust’s fleet has ‘Neo-HeLP’ suits on board to keep newborn babies warm.

The polyethylene occlusive suit, which babies are placed into immediately after birth, is designed to prevent hypothermia of newborns.

Last year, the Trust won two awards at the inaugural PROMPT (PRactical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training) Wales awards ceremony.

Paramedic Lisa O’Sullivan, Health Board Clinical Lead in Cardiff and Vale and a PROMPT Wales facilitator, won the Partnership and Collaborative Award.

Meanwhile, Consultant Paramedic and Regional Clinical Lead Steve Magee was the runner-up in the Supporting the PROMPT Wales National Team category.

In 2021, Steve led the introduction hand-knitted ‘cuddle pockets’ so that stillborn babies can be transported to hospital with compassion.

Pictured L-R: Bethan Jones, Perinatal Safety Champion and Midwife at the Welsh Ambulance Service, Lisa George, Labour Ward Manager at Glangwili Hospital, Steve Magee, Consultant Paramedic and Regional Clinical Lead at the Welsh Ambulance Service.