EP12.13: Instigating multi‐professional management of pregnant women with cardiac disease

To highlight the innovation and quality of care provided by the Maternity cardiology team. We have developed a regional referral pathway and a structured electronic multidisciplinary care plan for labour. The care plan is completed by the team following review and discussion with the woman and has clear recommendations on mode of delivery, any modifications on care or drugs, thromboprophylaxis, anesthetic, analgesic and fluid management. A copy is uploaded to the mother's notes and sent to the local clinicians who will be responsible for her ongoing care. To improve experience we have recently introduced maternal echocardiography in the clinic to reduce repeat visits. Over 13 years we have provided multi-professional care to 848 women from 14 different hospitals. This model of multi-professional care vastly improves communication and interdisciplinary working. These joint clinics work towards mitigating the inherent risk of inadequate communication between specialists. By providing pre-pregnancy counselling and antenatal care, we establish appropriate surveillance of maternal and fetal well-being, with a particular focus on planning for intrapartum care and delivery in these high-risk women. Evaluations completed by women with complex cardiac conditions show they find it helpful to have a shared discussion and clear forward planning about their care in labour, with all the relevant clinicians present at the same time. We have successfully used our innovative plans to improve the safety and quality of service we provide to these women who are at a high risk of morbidity and mortality during the peripartum period. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.