As outlined in the Better Births report, the NHS aims for everyone accessing maternity services to have access to a digital care record, by 2023/24.
However, two million UK households struggle to afford internet access and 10 million lack the most basic digital skills.
The North East and North Cumbria in particular has high levels of digital exclusion and has one of the highest percentages of non-internet users in England.
Other than midwives keeping paper notes, Grace found there were no alternative solutions available to help women access their digital care record, if they did not own a smart device or have access to the internet.
Improving digital technology
After initial research found alternative solutions lacking, Grace approached the Hope Foundation, which aims to reduce digital poverty and offers basic digital skills training to people living in Middlesbrough.
Through their Furbdit programme, Grace registered to become a drop off point for used devices, which she could then distribute to anyone who needs them.
Additionally, she applied for funding from the Online Centres Network and the National Data Bank, giving her access to SIM cards which can be used by women and birthing people who meet specific criteria.
Additionally, the project is contributing to the NHS’s sustainability goals, by minimising the use of paper records and reusing unwanted devices that would otherwise go to landfill.
Grace said: “Through this project, I feel like I can confidently say that we’ve been able to achieve every woman having equal access to the records digitally if they wanted it.
“I would love to be able to stand up at the end of next year and say that every single woman in the North East and North Cumbria has had exactly the same opportunity to access the records.”
Looking towards the future
Although the project is still within its early stages, Grace has already managed to help lots of women access their digital maternity records.
Future plans for the project include digital skills workshops at family hubs and improving internet access for pregnant women living in areas without signal.
The project has the potential for future spread an adoption in maternity departments across the NHS.