Safety recommendation
HSIB recommends that future iterations of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ guidance clarify the management of a reported change in fetal movements during the third trimester of pregnancy with due regard to national policy.
Response:
"Thank you for sharing this safety recommendation that relates to the Green Top Guidance on Reduced Fetal movements (RFM), published in 2011. The report identifies differences between that guidance and subsequent guidance published outside the RCOG by NHS England in 2019.
"The report does not refer to any data that links these differences in guidance with intrapartum stillbirth during the Covid pandemic and nor are there any data to indicate a direct relationship between a history of RFM and intrapartum stillbirth. Finally, both guidelines predate the Covid pandemic.
"Independently of the report, the RCOG Green Top Guidance on Reduced Fetal movement is currently being updated with any evidence that meets our standards for inclusion. We anticipate the new guidance will be available end of 2022 early 2023 after our standard peer review and revisions."
Action: GTG 57 review in early 2023 by the Guidelines Committee.
Response received on 14 December 2021.