Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Blogs This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Update on Zika (FAQ & New Findings)
This article is to offer answers (where possible) to some common FAQs (frequently asked questions) and also express some of our uncertainties. I will try and provide references to answers offered so that individuals can read the data for themselves Is Zika Transmission Happening in Malaysia? We know that Zika was first identified in Uganda in 1947 and then spread to Asia. It was detected in an Aedes mosquito in Peninsular Malaysia in 1969. In September 2014 a tourist was found to be infected with Zika after travelling in Sabah. (Source: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/21/5/14-1960_article). So Zika has been around, possib...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - September 7, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Education - Guest - Nation Aedes Zika Source Type: blogs

Preventing maternal mortality: it's okay to ask
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) - This animation was produced in conjunction with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and it aims to help doctors assess unwell pregnant or post-partum women. The video is accompanied by a poster which highlights the main causes of maternal death and provides doctors and midwives with advice for assessing pregnant and post-partum women who are feeling unwell. Video Poster Press release (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 23, 2016 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Knowledge Service Tags: Patient safety Quality of care and clinical outcomes Source Type: blogs

Epilepsy in pregnancy
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) -This RCOG guideline summarises the evidence on maternal and fetal outcomes in women with epilepsy (WWE). It provides recommendations on the care of WWE during the prepregnancy, antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods. Guideline Press release (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 19, 2016 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Knowledge Service Tags: Patient safety Source Type: blogs

Each baby counts: key message from 2015
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) - This is the first annual report from RCOG's Each Baby Counts quality improvement programme which aims to halve the number of stillbirths, neonatal deaths and severe brain injuries by 2020. The report examines the interim data from 2015 and finds that the quality of local investigations into cases of stillbirth, early neonatal death and severe brain injury occurring as a result of incidents during term labour must improve. Report Each Baby Counts Press release (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - June 9, 2016 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Knowledge Service Tags: Patient safety Quality of care and clinical outcomes Source Type: blogs

Patterns of maternity care in English NHS hospitals 2013-14
This report from the Clinical Indicators Project presents 18 indicators that can be used to compare the performance of English NHS trusts in maternity care. It shows substantial variation in practice between NHS trusts in England and it makes a number of key recommendations to NHS trusts, commissioners and researchers. Report Clinical indicators Project page (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - March 31, 2016 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Knowledge Service Tags: Quality of care and clinical outcomes Source Type: blogs

Patterns of maternity care in English NHS trusts: 2013/14
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists -The report, carried out in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, gives a national perspective on patterns of care during labour and delivery, enabling NHS trusts to examine their own practice in context and ensure their services meet the needs of women and their families. It shows substantial variation in practice between NHS maternity units in England and also suggests that NHS resources are not being used in the most efficient way. Report Maternity indicators Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - press release (Source: He...
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - March 22, 2016 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Knowledge Service Tags: NHS measurement and performance Quality of care and clinical outcomes Source Type: blogs

Zika
I had never heard of this virus before cases started to appear in the media in the last week or two. It seems, from this WHO Fact Sheet, found through NICE Evidence Search, that the consequences are a mild fever, conjunctivitis and a rash. But of course, zika, transmitted by mosquitoes, has made it to the news because of the serious effects it has on the fetus, causing microcephaly. It has been linked in the past to autoimmune diseases. NICE Evidence Search is a good place to start, and finds some of the resources below.Here are some resources about zika.News stories:The Guardian, 21.1.16...
Source: Browsing - January 22, 2016 Category: Databases & Libraries Tags: viruses zika Source Type: blogs

Cord blood and stem cells revisited
This article is a good summary on the important points about stem cells: http://www.closerlookatstemcells.org/Top_10_Stem_Cell_Treatment_Facts.html The biggest scam going on currently are the so-called “stem cell supplements or enhancers” being sold to consumers in a bottle. This was blogged here: http://alt.medicine.com.my/2013/12/be-wary-of-stem-cell-scams/ (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources)
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - July 16, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Health tips Cord blood Stem cells Source Type: blogs

Invited reviews
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) -This document sets out the RCOG's approach to requests for invited reviews of obstetric and/or gynaecology services, or individual clinical practice. It defines the governance, structure and operational process to be followed when a request is received by the College, the rationale for determining the appropriate response and how this response is followed through, including the process for review and follow-up. Guideline RCOG - guidelines RCOG - news (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - January 24, 2014 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Knowledge Service Tags: Regulation, governance and accountability Source Type: blogs

Reconfiguration of women's services in the UK
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) -This paper is based around recommendations made in several RCOG reports and guidance from other relevant organisations. It focuses on workforce planning including obstetric staffing, size of unit, geographical access to units, education and training, and discusses the NHS reforms and changes. Paper RCOG - news (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - December 18, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Knowledge Service Tags: Workforce and employment Source Type: blogs

Cochrane Review: The Safety and Benefits of Midwives Overseeing Maternity Care
If you’re pregnant and living in the United State, it’s likely that an obstetrician will oversee your maternity care and childbirth. In other countries, however, midwives commonly provide care, assuming the pregnancy is low-risk. An updated Cochrane review aimed to figure out whether patient outcomes vary by who is leading the care team. Cochrane compiles findings from multiple studies into systematic reviews, considered top-notch for determining the best evidence-based care. In this instance, the authors looked at outcomes for moms and babies of what the authors refer to as “midwife-led continuity models...
Source: Our Bodies Our Blog - December 12, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Rachel Tags: Pregnancy & Childbirth Research & Studies Source Type: blogs

The Ideal Labia is Your Own: Online Sites Push Back Against “Model” Genitalia
Cosmetic genital surgery on the labia has been of both increasing interest and concern in recent years. Many attribute this to the fact that the most readily available images of vulvas, which happen to be in pornography, don’t tend to show much variation in shape, color, hair, or other characteristics. A few resources exist to help promote the idea that there is a much wider range of what is normal than we often see in media. The Labia Library, run by Women’s Health Victoria, is a small photo gallery of labia, primarily of white-appearing women. The site also addresses body image concerns in the section Are M...
Source: Our Bodies Our Blog - December 6, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Rachel Tags: Body Image Media Source Type: blogs

Tackling female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK: intercollegiate recommendations for identifying, recording and reporting
This report argues that new measures are required to ensure that young girls at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation are protected by the existing UK legal framework. The report makes nine recommendations for tackling FGM in the UK and considers issues such as the lack of consistent data collection about FGM in the NHS Report RCOG - news (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - November 4, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Knowledge Service Tags: Patient safety Regulation, governance and accountability Source Type: blogs

The Medical (and Political) Problem with 20-Week Abortion Bans
July 15 protest rally in Austin against anti-abortion legislation / Photo by Mirsasha The recent wave of anti-abortion legislation has caused much confusion and concern over what the future of reproductive healthcare might look like in a few years. Texas recently enacted a 20-week abortion ban, and 13 states have passed similar bans. In Congress, Republican senators are pushing to bring a 20-week abortion ban up for a vote after the August recess, reports The New York Times. Let’s first look at the language in these bills, which usually reference “20 weeks post-fertilization.” Aside from the restrictive i...
Source: Our Bodies Our Blog - July 31, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Rachel Tags: Abortion & Reproductive Rights Legal Politics Pregnancy & Childbirth Source Type: blogs

Resources for commissioners of women's health services
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) - This new new e-resource aims to support CCGs and NHS England in the commissioning of women’s health services. It brings together standards for hospital-based obstetric and gynaecological care with community-based sexual and reproductive healthcare advice. It is also accompanied by a digital booklet, which provides a brief introduction to the medical specialties and highlights examples of best practice and innovation in UK health organisations. Commissioning resource Digital booklet RCOG - news (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - July 16, 2013 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Knowledge Service Tags: Commissioning Source Type: blogs