Impact of mandatory electronic carbon monoxide recording at antenatal booking
Author(s)
Brenda Friel
Presenter(s)
Brenda Friel Health Improvement Senior (Tobacco), NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Smokefree Services
Abstract
Reducing smoking in pregnancy is a priority and the benefits of stopping smoking during pregnancy are well known. NICE, 2010 recommend all pregnant women who smoke are identified and referred to the NHS Stop Smoking Services. Carbon monoxide (CO) testing by midwives in the antenatal clinic can facilitate this. CO testing was first introduced in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board in 2004. A target has been established, 97% pregnant women per year to be CO tested at antenatal booking.
From March 2011, documentation of CO at antenatal booking changed from paper to electronic. This is recorded, along with other pregnancy screening tests, on the Pregnancy Newborn Bloodspot Screen (PNBS) by booking midwives. The CO testing field is a mandatory requirement. All smokers, ex-smokers less than 2 weeks and non-smokers with a high CO are retrieved from the system each week. This has resulted in significant increases in service activity, this data will be presented. In addition, there has been some debate of what the ideal CO cut off point to determine smoking status. At the time of the conference almost 16 months of smoking status and CO levels will be presented.
