West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals launches maternity app

New mums across Hertfordshire are benefitting from the launch of a new app, which is replacing paper-based maternity notes at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The digital record system is called BadgerNet, and West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals is the first trust in Hertfordshire and West Essex to implement it. Following BadgerNet being acquired by System C in 2023, the tool has been rolled out to multiple trusts, including Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

BadgerNet has been rolled out to nearly 8,000 pregnant women in the first 12 months since implementation. It allows expectant parents to access their medical notes via the dedicated app, throughout pregnancy, birth and post-natally.

In addition, clinicians have access to medical records and can quickly respond to any possible issues.

The technology has become part of West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospital’s digital transformation journey, with the app helping to reduce the environmental impact of paper use. It minimises the risks of paperwork getting lost or overlooked, as well as supporting parents to be more involved with their maternity care.

The app is also extending access to care too. Expectant mums can use the app to have any questions answered by midwives ahead of their appointments, reducing anxieties for patients. Cementing the trust’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, the app is available in 10 languages and with multilingual maternity information resources.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals 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.”

Looking ahead, the BadgerNet system is continuously evolving to enable maternity and neonatal teams to analyse trends and adapt training.