A new safety signal system has been rolled out across NHS maternity services.

The new tool rapidly analyses data being routinely recorded by maternity teams on wards to spot whether there are potential emerging safety issues which need urgent attention and action.

If the system detects a pattern or trend in the data which seems out of the ordinary, it will send out a warning signal indicating a safety check should be urgently carried out on that unit.

Once a signal is generated, the maternity unit must carry out a critical safety check within eight working days and share action taken with regional and national teams.

Signals will be traffic-light coded, with amber alerts representing a 95% confidence and red alerts, a 99% confidence that the increase in events is real and needs urgent attention.

The data and signals will be visible at a trust, Integrated Care Board (ICB), regional and national level.

It is hoped that the tool will help to identify and address serious safety issues and prevent tragedies.

Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said: “There have been too many times where safety issues in maternity could have been detected earlier, and we have seen the devastating impact this has had on families.

“Having a signalling system for maternity which can carefully look at data in near real-time and spot early warning signs if something is potentially going wrong will help to avert safety incidents and prevent tragedies.

“It is the first national system of its kind in maternity to be able to signal potential safety issues as they emerge and allow them to be acted on faster by maternity services.

“And it will be the responsibility of staff in maternity services and hospital’s board executives to urgently act on warning signals so problems can’t be ignored or delayed.”

One of the first places to pilot the new signal system was Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Cathy Bevens, lead safety and governance midwife, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have had really positive experiences using the signal system – colleagues feel like we are being responsive. The system and safety check brings us together as a team and makes us really focus on what the issues are and where care can improve. It’s encouraged senior leaders and executives to come and talk to staff and services users, to listen their issues and concerns. This has prompted a building of trust and teamwork, and acknowledgement of the lived experiences of women on the labour ward. Overall, a really positive experience.”