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Publication, Part of

Maternity Services Monthly Statistics October 2019, experimental statistics

Official statistics, Experimental statistics

Current Chapter

Antenatal booking appointments


Antenatal booking appointments

Gestational age at booking appointment

At the booking appointment the woman will be given information relating to the baby's development stages, nutrition and screening tests available. NICE recommends that this appointment should ideally take place before 10 weeks' gestation.

58% of booking appointments were at or before 10 weeks' gestation.

Booking after more than 20 weeks of pregnancy accounted for 8 per cent of booking appointments.


Complex social factors

Please note that there is a known data quality issue this month, where some trusts reported "yes" for 100% of their records. Please see our data quality statement for more information. 

21% of women attending a booking appointment had complex social factors recorded

Women with complex social factors may need additional support to use antenatal care services .12,905 women attending a booking appointment had complex social factors recorded and 38,240 had a recording of no complex social factors. The remaining women did not have a complex social factor recorded.                                                                                                                                                  


Continuity of carer

The provision of care by a known midwife throughout the pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal period can be associated with improved health outcomes for the mother and baby, and also greater satisfaction levels.

When a Continuity of Carer pathway has been agreed, this should be recorded and submitted via the MSDS.

36 trusts have reported that Continuity of Carer pathways are in place for a total of 8,890 women. This is 3 trusts more than in the previous month.


Personalised care

The NHS Long Term Plan and the accompanying guidance, Universal Personalised Care, made commitments to delivering choice and personalisation in maternity services, complimenting the recommendations in the national maternity review, Better Births

When a Personalised Care and Support Plan (PCSP) has been agreed, this should be recorded and submitted.

34 trusts have reported that PCSPs are in place for a total of 21,035 women. 


Last edited: 24 April 2020 10:50 am