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New national clinical guidelines on ectopic pregnancy and reduced fetal movements published
New national clinical guidelines on the diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy, and reduced fetal movements, were launched at the National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) National Midwifery Conference on 02 May 2024.
The Diagnosis and Management of Ectopic Pregnancy guideline was written by a team, led by Dr Niamh Fee, Specialist Registrar, Rotunda Hospital. Dr Deirdre Hayes Ryan (Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, Cork University Maternity Hospital-CUMH), Dr Caroline Joyce (Senior Biochemist, Cork University Hospital), and Professor Keelin O’Donoghue of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group (PLRG) were involved in the reviewing the draft guideline and assisting with guideline development.
Development of the Clinical Guideline on Reduced Fetal Movements was led by Dr Tamara Kalisse, Specialist Registrar Obstetrics and Gynaecology, CUMH. The Guideline Development Group comprised members of the PLRG, including Ms Anne-Marie Farrell (Parent Advocate and MPH Student, UCC), Dr Emily Rutherford (Registrar, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, CUMH) and Professor Keelin O’Donoghue, amongst others.
Each guideline is accompanied by a summary document to support healthcare professionals with an easy reference guide, and a plain language summary. There is also a mobile application to facilitate easier access to, and implementation of, the guidelines.
Led by Professor Keelin O’Donoghue (Clinical Lead) and Nicolai Murphy (Programme Manager), the National Clinical Practice Guidelines are a programme of work agreed between the National Women and Infants Health Programme and the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. The Guidelines provide up-to-date, evidence-based, clinical recommendations for care of women in maternity and gynaecology services, and promote a standardised approach to care across the country. Twelve guidelines were launched January 2023 – including guidelines on recurrent miscarriage, stillbirth and complications of early termination of pregnancy. A further four Guidelines were launched at the NWIHP Quality and Safety Conference in October of the same year. This brings to 20, the total number of clinical guidelines published to date under this programme.
The National Clinical Practice Guidelines can be viewed/downloaded at:
- https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/clinical-guidelines/
- https://rcpi.ie/Faculties-Institutes/Institute-of-Obstetricians-and-Gynaecologists/National-Clinical-Guidelines-in-Obstetrics-and-Gynaecology.
They can also be accessed via the MED e-guide mobile application:
- https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/meg-eguides/id1260658241
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.megsupporttools.eguide.
The National Midwifery Conference was held at the Midlands Park Hotel on 02 May 2024, three days ahead of International Day of the Midwife 2024. Guidelines on ‘Screening and Management of Domestic Violence in Pregnancy and the Early Postnatal Period’ and ‘Antenatal Corticosteroids to Reduce Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality’ were also launched at the conference.