The improvement story which is saving babies’ lives

More mothers and babies born prematurely are receiving life-changing care thanks to the award-winning improvements being led by doctors, nurses and midwives working together in Swindon and across the South West.

PERIPrem (Perinatal Excellence to Reduce Injury in Premature Birth) is an evidence-based bundle of healthcare interventions, delivered by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals joining forces to consistently provide the very best care, before, during and after birth.

It is an example of the incredible improvement work happening across the Trust and has elevated the South West as a region of excellence in perinatal care.

PERIPrem Lead Nurse Rosalind Freeman joins Dr Sarah Bates, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist, in the video to share their story of working together to make improvements, revealing how they inspire staff, ensure a consistent quality of care and their advice to others looking to make improvements in care.

Local mother Chloe Kirwin also shares her personal experience of PERIPrem following the birth of her son George, which inspired the creation of Chloe’s charity Tiny But Mighty.

This transformational work co-led by Dr Bates, in partnership with both regional health science networks and the South West Neonatal Network, is now being adopted elsewhere in the country and internationally.

Dr Bates is passionate about coaching teams to create a culture of improvement, with her work on PERIPrem helping to standardise care, save lives and make a significant impact on reducing brain injury amongst babies born earlier than 34 weeks.

There are improvements happening across the Trust, supporting everything we do to achieve our vision and our four pillars which we want to be known for. 

Improving Together is our approach to improvement, empowering all staff to make positive changes which make a real difference to the experience of patients and the working lives of staff.