Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Disparities In Access to the Northwest Ambulance Service During Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum Period and Its Association With Neonatal and Maternal Outcomes

This important study, the first of its kind in the UK, is exploring how pregnant women, those giving birth, and new mothers access ambulance services. Researchers want to understand if all women, from different backgrounds, have equal access to urgent maternity care. They're also looking at whether using an ambulance affects the health of both mothers and their babies. The study involves two main parts: first, comparing health outcomes for women who used an ambulance to get to a Manchester hospital with those who didn't. Second, carefully reading paramedics' notes to understand the experiences of women at higher risk. The goal is to provide a clear picture of emergency maternity care access, helping to improve services and make sure care is fair and effective for all women.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

18,000

Start

01 Sep 2024

Estimated completion

02 Jun 2026

Emergency Maternity Care Health Inequalities in Maternity Care Access Disparities in Access to Maternity Care Deprivation Ethnicity Ambulances Pre-hospital

What is this study about?

This study is the first in the UK to look closely at how women and their families use ambulance services during a very important time: pregnancy, giving birth, and the period shortly after having a baby (often called the 'perinatal period'). The main goal is to understand if all women, no matter their background, have the same access to urgent and emergency care for maternity needs. The researchers also want to see if there's any link between using an ambulance and the health outcomes for both the mother and the baby.

The study is divided into two parts. In the first part, researchers will compare information from women who were taken by ambulance to a Manchester NHS maternity hospital with women who had their baby at the same hospitals but didn't use an ambulance. They will look at different factors about these groups and their health results. The second part involves a deeper look into the written notes made by paramedics in ambulance records for some women from the first group, especially those who might have had a higher risk of health problems. By reading these notes, the researchers hope to understand what happened during their care journey and find common themes.

By bringing all this information together, the study aims to create a detailed picture of how different women get emergency maternity care. This understanding is really important for finding ways to improve these services. Ultimately, the study hopes to help make sure that maternity care is as safe, fair, and effective as possible for everyone, especially for women who might find it harder to get the care they need.

Key takeaways

Looks at ambulance use during pregnancy, birth, and after baby.
First UK study of its kind, focusing on fairness in access.
Uses anonymised health records, no direct patient involvement.
Aims to improve maternity care for all women.
Your privacy is protected, data is anonymised.

Who may be eligible?

This study looks at information that has already been collected, so you wouldn't typically ‘join’ it in the way you might join a new medical trial. Instead, if you're a woman who was pregnant, gave birth, or was in the early stages after delivery between August 2022 and August 2024, your anonymised data might be included if you received care at a Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) maternity unit.

Specifically, for the first part of the study, information from women who either used an ambulance to get to an MFT maternity unit or gave birth at an MFT unit without using an ambulance during that timeframe could be included. For the second part, the study will look at paramedic notes for a selection of women who used an ambulance to get to an MFT maternity unit during the specified dates and who did not opt out of their data being used for research.

Your data would *not* be included if you have previously told the NHS that you do not want your health information used for research purposes (this is called the NHS national data opt-out). Information about women who gave birth outside of the MFT maternity units or those whose records don't clearly show a pregnancy or birth within the study dates would also not be used.

Quick self-check

Were you pregnant or gave birth between August 2022 and August 2024?
Did you receive maternity care at a Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) hospital?
Did you use an ambulance during your pregnancy, birth, or shortly after, to get to an MFT maternity unit?
Have you *not* opted out of your NHS data being used for research?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

As this study uses existing, anonymised patient records, you would not need to do anything or attend any appointments. Your participation would involve researchers securely and confidentially looking at your health information if you meet the study criteria and haven't opted out of your data being used for research. You would not receive any medication, have extra visits, or be asked to do any follow-up actions. The study is simply looking at past information to understand how services are used.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study only uses existing, anonymised health records, there are no direct risks to you. Your personal details will be kept private, and your name will not be linked to the information used. The main benefit is that your anonymised health data could help improve ambulance and maternity services for other women in the future, making care fairer and more effective for everyone. You have the right to opt out of your data being used by the NHS for research, and your decision will be respected.

Locations (1)

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is the 'perinatal period'?

The 'perinatal period' covers the time from when your pregnancy starts, through giving birth, and for a short time after your baby is born.

Will my personal details be safe?

Yes, completely. The study uses anonymised data, meaning your name and other identifying details are removed so no one can tell it's your information.

What if I don't want my information used?

You have a choice. If you've previously registered for the NHS national data opt-out, your information will not be included in this study.

What is the study hoping to achieve?

The goal is to understand if everyone has equal access to emergency maternity care and to find ways to improve ambulance and maternity services for all women.

Is this study looking at new treatments?

No, this study is not testing new treatments. It's looking at existing health records to understand how current services are used and where they could be improved.