Summary

The NHS is moving to consistent, shareable digital maternity records so teams can access the same information and reduce duplication. The Digital Maternity Record Standard is the reference many suppliers and providers use when shaping electronic maternity records. MiRecord is the Perinatal Institute’s new electronic version of its well-known hand-held maternity notes, developed with Harlow Solutions, and designed to support clinicians and mothers with clear pathways, risk prompts and offline access. NHS EnglandPRSBperinatal.org.uk

What the Digital Maternity Record Standard covers

The Digital Maternity Record Standard (current release v2.1.2, November 2024) is published by the Professional Record Standards Body with formal approvals referenced as DCB3066/DAPB3066. It defines the structure and data items for electronic maternity records across antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care, and includes guidance, business rules and supporting SNOMED CT codes. PRSB

The standard sets out sections such as person demographics, allergies, screening results, fetal scan reports, labour details, newborn examinations and care plans. It aims to make records easier to share between systems and organisations, reduce repetitive data entry and improve safety. PRSB

PRSB developed the standard with input from clinicians, charities, system suppliers, representative bodies and people who have used maternity services. This co-production approach is documented on the PRSB page and reflected in the release documentation. PRSB

Why this matters for NHS providers

NHS England’s Maternity Transformation Programme has a digital workstream focused on patient-held digital records and better data use. The goal is to improve outcomes and reduce variation in care. Digital maternity projects have been coordinated nationally to support the vision in Better Births and the NHS Long Term Plan. NHS England+1NHS England Digital

Better data and consistent record structures enable clearer team communication, more reliable data flows into the Maternity Services Data Set, and a stronger foundation for dashboards and quality improvement work. NHS England Digital+1

Where MiRecord fits

MiRecord is the new electronic version of the Perinatal Institute’s hand-held maternity notes. It is presented as a mother-centred system that supports clinicians with care pathways, risk alerts and prompts. It offers offline use, shared care across settings, emergency access and full mother access. The Perinatal Institute states MiRecord integrates with its GROW 2.0 fetal growth surveillance module. perinatal.org.uk

MiRecord’s development is described as clinically led, with a streamlined interface designed to surface the right information at the right time. The product page also shows the Perinatal Institute and Harlow Solutions partnership on MiRecord. perinatal.org.uk

Practical implications for maternity teams

• Services adopting systems that align with the Digital Maternity Record Standard can expect more consistent capture of antenatal history, screening, observations, labour details and newborn examinations, which supports safer handover and cross-organisational care. PRSB
• A maternity EPR that provides risk prompts and clear pathways can support timely decision-making at the point of care. MiRecord highlights these features on its product page. perinatal.org.uk
• Integration with fetal growth surveillance, such as GROW 2.0, means serial measurements and growth assessments can sit alongside wider clinical context within the same digital journey. The Perinatal Institute confirms the MiRecord–GROW 2.0 link. perinatal.org.uk

Getting started

If your unit is reviewing digital maternity systems, check whether vendors map to the PRSB Digital Maternity Record Standard and whether they provide the sections and business rules you need. PRSB provides an online viewer, release notes, supporting SNOMED lists and implementation guidance. PRSB

To learn more about MiRecord, see the Perinatal Institute’s MiRecord page, which outlines functionality, the GROW 2.0 integration and contact details for demonstrations. perinatal.org.uk