WUTH first in the Northwest to introduce enhanced pre-eclampsia screening across maternity services

Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) is leading the way in maternity care by introducing a new enhanced screening pathway for pre-eclampsia as routine care in early pregnancy.

Pre-eclampsia is a serious high blood pressure condition that can affect the pregnancy and health of the baby. High blood pressure disorders, including pre-eclampsia, affect around one in 10 people in their first pregnancy and are a leading cause of premature birth and pregnancy complications. 

WUTH is the first NHS trust in the Northwest to introduce the new routine testing, helping identify those most at risk of developing pre-eclampsia earlier in their pregnancy so that treatment can be given to prevent it. 

The development follows WUTH's involvement in the national STARShiP (Screen and Treat with Aspirin to Reduce Pre-eclampsia) programme, which is exploring whether a more advanced approach to identifying those at risk of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy can lead to better outcomes than current NHS screening methods.

Dr Kate Lightly, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Research Lead for Women's and Children's Services at WUTH, said: 

"Pre-eclampsia poses serious risks for parents and babies, so early identification of those who are more likely to develop pre-eclampsia is incredibly important. " 

"This new screening pathway gives us a much more accurate way of assessing risk during early pregnancy and allows us to offer preventative treatment to those most likely to benefit from it. " 

The enhanced FMF (Fetal Medicine Foundation) screening assessment uses information gathered during early pregnancy alongside additional measurements to provide a more personalised assessment of an individual’s risk of developing pre-eclampsia. The approach has been shown to identify those at higher risk more accurately than current screening methods, allowing preventative treatment to be offered to those who need it most.

As the first NHS trust in the UK to start the STARShiP study, WUTH has played an important role in supporting the development and evaluation of the screening approach, ensuring local families can benefit from the latest advances in maternity care. 

Janelle Holmes, Chief Executive of WUTH, said: 

"We are delighted to be the first organisation in the Northwest to offer this enhanced screening as part of routine maternity care. It means that expectant parents in Wirral can benefit from the very latest advances in care, helping us to identify those at higher risk of pre-eclampsia earlier and provide the support they need.

Being actively involved in research means we can bring promising new approaches to local services sooner, ensuring that our communities benefit from the latest developments in maternity care.

This is a fantastic example of how research can directly benefit local families. Earlier identification of risk allows us to offer the right support at the right time, helping to improve outcomes and give every baby and family the best possible start."

ENDS

ADDITIONAL INFO

The STARShiP study is taking place in 16 NHS Trusts in England. Over the course of the study, all hospitals within those trusts will switch from using the NICE test to the new FMF test as their usual care.

WUTH was selected to be the first trust to switch to routine screening. The timing of when WUTH switched its screening test was determined randomly using a computer program at the beginning of the study.

The STARshiP study is being sponsored by the University of Manchester, in collaboration with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and the University of Nottingham.

The study will be managed by the Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit (NCTU), as a part of the University of Nottingham.

The study is funded by the research arm of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research NIHR (Project reference: NIHR152762) and supported by the UK’s Action on Pre-Eclampsia Charity (APEC). 

Link for more information on STARShiP.