BadgerNet transforms maternity care at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Posted: 2 May 2024
A digital app for new mums across Hertfordshire has proved a big hit – with nearly 8,000 women signing up to it in just 12 months.
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust launched the service to allow mums to access their medical notes throughout their pregnancy, birth, and postnatal journey via a dedicated app.
It replaced the paper-based maternity notes system traditionally used by hospitals for generations. The Trust is the first in Hertfordshire and West Essex to implement this digital record system called BadgerNet.
Use of the app is part of the Trust’s digital transformation, showing its commitment to enhancing patient care through technology and moving towards a more sustainable future by reducing the environmental impact of paper use.
Clinicians have speedy access to medical records and can quickly respond to any possible issues, it also reduces the chance of paperwork getting lost or overlooked.
The system is continuously evolving, enabling maternity and neonatal teams to analyse trends, adapt training requirements, and tailor services to meet the needs of the local population.
Mums can also have their questions answered by midwives through the app ahead of their appointments, reducing anxiety.
In 2023 3,744 babies were born at West Herts. Since the launch of BadgerNet 7,770 women have benefited from the app.
The app, available in 10 languages, along with multilingual maternity information resources, shows the Trust’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring all women receive information in a format they understand.
West Herts Digital Midwife, Sarah Puntis, said: "One of our key aims has been to reduce inequalities in maternal health. Women without access to their own digital devices can still make use of the app. We work closely with the charity Good Things Foundation and have established a maternity digital hub which helps provide devices and access to the internet for those who would otherwise be excluded."
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- For more information, please contact the communications team on: 01923 436280 or email: westherts.communications@nhs.net. Out of hours, please call the Watford General Hospital switchboard on 01923 244366 and ask for the on call communications manager.
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves people from across Hertfordshire, north London and further afield. It operates from three hospitals; Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead. The trust has a catchment area of over 600,000 people and is one of the largest employers locally, with around 5,800 staff and volunteers.
- For more information about our hospitals, visit the trust website. You can also join us on Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube and LinkedIn @WestHertsNHS
