A new machine learning “observatory” system which its creators hope will help improve patient safety and make NHS maternity scandals a thing of the past is being launched later this week. The system, which is being announced at the annual NHS ConfedExpo in Manchester on Wednesday, will ultimately give hospitals and medics a detailed picture of risk factors for each pregnant woman , allowing staff to better predict where problems may occur and prevent them from becoming serious. The Maternity and Neonatal Observatory system uses a form of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse millions of data based on dozens of clinical factors, such as ethnicity, deprivation, and comorbidities, where a person has more than one illness, showing maternity services where they need to focus their attention.
The same system then allows providers to track if policy changes and quality improvement measures put in place have led to improvements. It is the same technology which NHS trusts have started to use to reduce their waiting lists by identifying previously hidden at-risk patients , allowing targeted “pre-rehabilitation” to keep them well while they wait and to improve surgery outcomes. Dr Mark Ratnarajah, a practising NHS paediatrician and UK managing director for the firm behind the technology, C2-Ai, said several trusts who have tested the maternity system are expected to adopt the technology shortly.
“We have about 5-6 NHS maternity units that have asked us whether we can deploy .
