The Welsh Government has announced the beginning of the national roll out of an electronic health record and app to give mothers-to-be access to their full maternity records.
It said they will be linked to replace paper notes and allow women to view booked appointments, learn about the progress of their baby’s development, enter their blood pressure readings if asked by a midwife, personalise their preferences such as where to give birth and provide details of any allergies.
The app will also provide updates after every appointment and messages to support a healthy pregnancy.
The system is now being implemented by Aneurin University Health Board, to be followed by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board then across the country by March 2026.
Right care, right time
Chief nursing officer for Wales, Sue Tranka said: “For women in Wales, having a digital record for maternity care means having access to the right care, at the right time, no matter where they are, helping to make their health and maternity journeys smoother and more supported.
“This will also make it simpler for healthcare professionals to share important information, to make quick, informed decisions, giving women the personalized care they deserve.”
Senior lead midwife informatics specialist at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Elleanor Griffiths, said: “Using digital maternity records helps us to support public health initiatives by enabling rapid access to data, such as identifying women for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccinations, and supporting vulnerable women with tailored care. The ability to review a woman's history, send reminders, and access comprehensive reports significantly improves the quality of care.
"Being a patient facing app, it empowers women and birthing people by providing easy access to their records and key information, enabling informed decisions about their care.”
