OUH Maternity Services perform well in national report

Maternity Services at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) have shown positive performance in perinatal care, according to the latest data from the MBRRACE-UK (Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK) perinatal mortality report. 

MBRRACE-UK is the national programme responsible for conducting surveillance and investigating the causes of maternal deaths, stillbirths, and infant deaths.

This comprehensive report, which allows for a detailed comparison of maternity units across the UK, highlights OUH's achievements in reducing perinatal mortality rates. Published earlier this month, the latest dataset is from 2022.
Perinatal care refers to care from when a woman becomes pregnant, and up to a year after giving birth.

OUH is a referral centre for high-risk pregnancies, including extremely premature babies and those with significant complications. The MBRRACE-UK report ensures that comparisons are made with similar trusts, particularly those with both neonatal intensive care units and neonatal surgery facilities.

The data in the latest report shows:

- OUH's average neonatal death rate is over 15% lower than the average rate of similar units
- OUH's average perinatal death rate is 5 – 15% lower than the average rate of similar units
- OUH's average stillbirth rate is within 5% of the average rate of similar units.

Dr Andrew Brent, Chief Medical Officer at OUH, said: "These results highlight not only the excellent care provided by our Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford but also the quality of care across our Maternity Services.

"The neonatal death rate is a crucial indicator of this, as it reflects the wellness of babies at birth and the quality of immediate postnatal care.

"Reports like this one help us to identify problems, see patterns, and make change."

Catherine Greenwood, Clinical Director for Maternity at OUH, said: "This is very positive to see, and I’d like to thank our maternity colleagues for all that they do to care for women and babies at all stages of pregnancy and birth. 

"Important outcome data such as this will continue to inform how we shape and improve the delivery of safe, patient-centred maternal and neonatal care."

The data is available at the MBRRACE-UK Data Viewer:

Perinatal mortality data viewer | MBRRACE-UK (le.ac.uk)