CHAPTER 20 - The maternity dashboard

Summary

This chapter explores the reasoning behind the need for an up-to-date, easy-to-use data demonstration system, the first use of a maternity dashboard in England and subsequent developments. These innovations include a simple way of using data from maternity packages and an electronic dashboard system that extracts data from maternity software and other data packages relevant to the specialty. The primary reason for the use of a dashboard should be to provide information, to support governance and to reduce risk. Other benefits that should be considered are the fact that the data collected can be used as part of the audit for processes such as the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST), commissioning for quality and innovation (CQUIN) and, more recently, quality, innovation, productivity and prevention (QIPP). The process of dashboard development is a rapidly growing area and the chapter aims to outline the essentials for a successful end product.