Maternity early warning system (MEWS) virtual grand round presentation

In this video, Dr Matthew Drake (clinical lead obstetric anaesthesia) presents a virtual grand round about the New Zealand national maternity early warning system (MEWS). This presentation is for district health boards (DHBs) to use in lieu of site visits from the Health Quality & Safety Commission's MEWS team, while COVID-19 travel restrictions are in place.

MEWS is being implemented across all New Zealand DHBs in maternity services and the wider hospital for pregnant or recently pregnant women (from pregnancy test positive up to and including 42 days after the pregnancy ends).

This presentation gives background to this recognition and response system which aims to reduce maternal morbidity nationwide.

Presenter: Dr Matthew Drake, clinical lead obstetric anaesthesia for MEWS at the Health Quality & Safety Commission. Matthew is also specialist anaesthetist and deputy service clinical director, women’s health anaesthesia at Auckland DHB.

Duration: 14 minutes