News Archive

The DECISIONS Study 

The DECISIONS Study - Describing Experiences of Counselling, Information, and Support for In-utero anomalies On Neuroimaging Dear colleagues, We are running a research study into people’s experiences of counselling for fetal brain... Read more

AI-WISE study: Artificial Intelligence in Women’s Health

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as large language models like ChatGPT, are becoming increasingly common in clinical, educational and research settings. While they hold promise for improving women’s health, they also raise important... Read more

Abstracts from 2025 BMFMS conference

Now published on BJOG

Scientific Abstracts from the 2025 BMFMS Annual Conference have now been published in BJOG. Link to BJOG supplement (free access) Read more

Joint statement on recent claims about the use of Paracetamol in Pregnancy & Autism Spectrum Disorder

BMFMS is supporting a joint statement with UKTIS and MOMS on recent claims about the use of Paracetamol in Pregnancy and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Summary: Paracetamol is commonly used by pregnant women and is generally the drug of choice for... Read more

Managing Uncertainty in Perinatal Medicine and Palliative Care

New online course

BMFMS is one of the organisations supporting this new course, developed by Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundations Trust and hosted on the Future Learn platform. Topics covered: Background to complex foetal and neonatal conditions where the... Read more

NHS 10 Year Plan

Statement from NICE chief executive, Dr Sam Roberts: I am delighted to welcome the publication of the NHS 10 Year Plan today which marks a major moment for the healthcare system and is a clear endorsement of NICE’s role in delivering faster, and... Read more

IP1217/3 Balloon disimpaction of the baby’s head at emergency caesarean during the second stage of labour

The final guidance for IP1217/3 Balloon disimpaction of the baby’s head at emergency caesarean during the second stage of labour is now available on the NICE website . Published guidance, NICE advice and quality standards | Guidance | NICE   Read more

COMPASS tool: Culture of Organisations and its Impact on Patients' Safety

COMPASS (Culture of Organisations and its iMpact on PAtientS’ Safety) is a new patient safety tool to help understand the impact of organisational culture on patient safety and is currently being trialled across 12 trusts. The tool has been... Read more

ACCIA update for the 2025 award round

ACCIA have shared some statistics about the 2024 award round and how things have changed since the scheme was reformed. Thye shared some important highlights: Success rates over the last three award rounds have been c.48% First-time applicants... Read more

Organisations call for the Government to accelerate action on women’s health

Today, the RCOG along with 48 other organisations representing women’s health and mental health are calling for concrete action if women are to receive the quality healthcare they need across their lifetime. The UK government election manifesto... Read more

New Service Available Fetal Exposure to Medicine Service (FEMS) pilot

What is the Fetal Exposure to Medicine Service (FEMS) pilot? The Fetal Exposure to Medicines Service (FEMS) is a pilot that provides a specialised diagnostic and care management advice service to those who have been exposed to certain antiseizure... Read more

President’s Update January 2025

Dear Members, A belated Happy New Year. The committee met on 7 January 2025 for our first full committee meeting of the New Year. We have had a productive 2024 and been asked for our comments on a number of relevant subjects including the NHS... Read more

Cessation of hardcopy laboratory reports by Red Cell Immunohaematology (RCI) at NHS Blood and Transplant

NHSBT RCI laboratories will no longer send hardcopy paper reports after 1 June 2025. This is part of their commitment to improving efficiency, minimising risks associated with printing, and posting paper reports and reducing their carbon... Read more

NICE guideline on Intrapartum care - uterotonics for postpartum haemorrhage

This final guideline has now been published on the NICE website Intrapartum care - uterotonics for postpartum haemorrhage. You can also find the supporting evidence, tools and resources as well as all the stakeholder comments that they received... Read more

REF 2029 applications for main panel and sub-panel recruitment

REF 2029, are moving to open applications for main panel and sub-panel recruitment. This means that individuals will apply directly to act as panel members, rather than being nominated by sector bodies. This change aims to increase transparency,... Read more

Join Group B Strep Support’s Voluntary Clinical Advisory Panel 

Are you passionate about improving maternal and neonatal health? Group B Strep Support is seeking dedicated professionals to join their Voluntary Clinical Advisory Panel! This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with leading experts in... Read more

BMFMS President's November 2024 newsletter

Please see here for the BMFMS President’s November 2024 update. This update includes information about the BMFMS 2025 Conference, recent BMFMS committee appointments and a summary of the issues that the committee has been working on.     Read more

National review of maternity services in England 2022 to 2024

The Care Quality Commission have published a series of online resource materials aimed at sharing good practice and encouraging improvement in NHS hospital maternity services.  Developed in collaboration with providers, maternity staff and... Read more

New Framework: Routine Pulse Oximetry Testing for Newborn Babies

BAPM has today published a new Framework for Practice: Routine Pulse Oximetry Testing for Newborn Babies. Hypoxaemic conditions such as cardiac, respiratory and infective diseases remain a significant cause of death in the early neonatal period.... Read more

New eLearning for occupational therapists working in perinatal mental health

Three new sessions of the Perinatal Mental Health for Occupational Therapists eLearning programme have been developed in collaboration with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the NHS England E-Learning for health Programme. The new... Read more