Maternity care bundle for UK women with multiple long-term health conditions: coproduction workshops

Objective: The objective of this study is to co-produce a care bundle for women with multiple long-term health conditions (MLTC) that could be pilot tested and implemented in UK maternity services.

Design: Online co-production workshops each attended by 20–30 key interest holders.

Setting: United Kingdom, October 2023-February 2024.

Population: Women with experience of pregnancy with MLTC, healthcare professionals and other interest holders involved in commissioning, planning and delivering care for pregnant women with MLTC.

Methods: This study followed a three-step process: (1) a consolidated list of key components of care for pregnant women with MLTC was created through secondary analysis of prior collected qualitative data; (2) the list of care components was explored during four co-production workshops; and (3) findings from (1) and (2) were synthesised to develop a maternity care bundle of 4–5 key care components for pregnant women with MLTC.

Main outcome measures: A maternity care bundle of five key care components for pregnant women with MLTC.

Results: A list of 25 care components was refined to develop a proposed care bundle of five components. These were provisions of early and reliable medication advice and decision support; creation of a ‘goals of care summary’ accessible to women and the care team; provision of continuity of midwifery care throughout pregnancy and postnatal care; provision of a named care coordinator; and a formal postnatal handover of care from the multidisciplinary care team to the General Practitioner (GP) and secondary care team involving the woman.

Conclusions: This study coproduced an evidence-based care bundle for pregnant women with MLTC to enhance communication and ensure individualised care and support. Further collaborative work with women and professionals is required to refine, implement and evaluate its impact on outcomes.