44 of the country's 45 maternity clinics need to address deficiencies to provide good maternity care, according to the Health and Social Care Inspectorate (Ivo).
Many things work well in Swedish maternity care – but not everything, according to Ivo.
The deficiencies concern, among other things, self-monitoring, the failure to follow recommended procedures for perineal tears, and the need for better record-keeping.
The healthcare providers' own monitoring in the areas of performance, documentation, and quality work is often insufficient to detect, prevent, and prevent risks or serious incidents, according to the interim report from Ivo.
Perineal Tears
In the case of perineal tears, it is recommended that two people be present during examination and suturing. However, this has not been adequately implemented in practical work – which can lead to care injuries, according to Ivo.
The inspection shows that staff do not always have the conditions to document in conjunction with care, as the guidelines stipulate. Better conditions are required for staff to document assessments and medication management, according to the report.
"These are vital components that need to be in place for patient-safe care, as otherwise, it risks leading to serious care injuries. We also see this in the reports that come in to the authority," says Peder Carlsson, department head at Ivo, in a press release.
Account for Measures
The Health and Social Care Inspectorate has conducted inspections of all 45 maternity clinics in Sweden as part of a government assignment to strengthen supervision of maternity and maternity care.
44 clinics that have so far received inspection decisions have been required to account for planned and implemented measures.
The government decided on 9 March 2023 to assign Ivo the task of strengthening national supervision of maternity and maternity care during the period 2023–2025.
The inspection will be based on risk analyses of where the need for supervision is greatest and will be characterised by a patient and user perspective. Ivo is to submit its final report no later than 31 March 2026.
Source: The Health and Social Care Inspectorate.
