New Maternity Triage System Launched

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) is pleased to announce the launch of a new maternity triage system at University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The Birmingham Symptom-specific Obstetric Triage System (BSoTs) is a nationally recognised system that helps ensure women and birthing people receive faster, safer, and more consistent care when attending with urgent pregnancy concerns.

The new system enables maternity teams to:

• Improve patient safety through risk-led triage
• Reduce delays in urgent assessment and treatment
• Provide staff with clear clinical guidance
• Enhance patient experiences with timely, appropriate care.

Women and birthing people attending our maternity services at University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital will now be triaged on arrival. Those requiring urgent care will be seen first.

While this may mean some women and birthing people are seen before others who arrived earlier, the system is designed to prioritise safety at every step. An initial assessment will be carried out within 15 minutes wherever possible.

Jo Hall, Head of Midwifery at CDDFT, said:​ “We understand that attending hospital with urgent pregnancy concerns can be an anxious time. The introduction of BSoTs here at County Durham and Darlington, ensures that everyone is assessed promptly and receives care based on clinical need. Our dedicated maternity teams are committed to providing compassionate, timely, and safe care to all women and birthing people.”​

If you have any questions or concerns please speak to your community midwife or a midwife at the hospital you are receiving care.

This development is part of the Trust’s commitment to delivering the safest and highest quality maternity care.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we continue to enhance our services.