Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust’s Deputy Head of Midwifery, Jayne Jempson and James Barkshire, IT technician, have been shortlisted for a national award by the Royal College of Midwives for their involvement in introducing the maternity ‘digipen’ to the community midwives of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust.  

The pioneering ‘digipen’ technology was used in a successful pilot run by Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trusts IT department and maternity department and has resulted in the nomination for the Philips Avent Award for Innovation in Midwifery.

The maternity ‘digipen’ transforms the way community midwives carry out their day-to-day work by significantly reducing the need for paperwork, as the ‘digipen’ transmits handwritten patient notes to electronic hospital files.

Notes are made on special paper with tiny dots that recognise the midwives’ handwriting. The information is automatically sent back to the NHS records system via a blackberry and are saved. The maternity digipen allows midwives to spend more time with mothers and babies and reduces the risk of losing medical records.

Jayne Jempson, Deputy Head of Midwifery, said: “I am delighted to be shortlisted for this award. It is a real honour for me and everyone involved with the project to be recognised in this way. We are all extremely proud of how successful the pilot scheme has been.”

Donna Ockenden, Chief Midwife, said: “The work of Jayne, James, and the whole ‘digipen’ team involved in the project, has made dramatic improvements to the way community midwives work. The midwives now have significantly more time with mothers and babies and can  make midwifery care more cost effective overall. The project therefore is proving to be of great benefit to mothers, midwives and the NHS in general.

“We have high hopes that this project can be rolled out across the South coast and ultimately other areas of the country and are very proud that this project started here in Portsmouth.”

Professor Cathy Warwick, General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “I am delighted that Jayne and James have been shortlisted for this award. Their work typifies the professionalism of midwives and highlights the innovative work that they and others are doing. It also shows the dedication and determination from midwives and support workers to improve the services they provide for women and babies.”