Recently, we held a Digital Midwives Roundtable in York, which brought together 42 digital midwives, maternity leaders and industry experts who use BadgerNet to share their experiences, explore current challenges and discuss the future of digital maternity care.

Running throughout the day was a simple yet significant theme: Maternity Care is a Team Sport. Whether discussing continuity of care, data quality, national priorities or digital transformation, our speakers and attendees repeatedly returned to the importance of collaboration, consistency and shared responsibility.

A picture of a busy room at the Digital Midwives Roundtable Event.

Who Carries the Baton?

Maggie Reid, our Clinical Services Director here at System C, opened the day and posed a thought-provoking question…

Who carries the baton in maternity care?

Too often, we hear that the answer is the woman herself. She may be the one who is repeating her concerns, joining up the dots between services and carrying her information from one appointment to another.

Maggie challenged our delegates to think differently. Effective maternity care should work like a relay race. While one person may carry the baton for a time, success depends on smooth handovers between the wider team. When it comes to a relay race, the handover is one of the most important moments. The same is true in maternity services.
The question for the room was clear.

How can we make sure that the baton is passed effectively, safely, and consistently throughout a woman’s maternity journey?

The Most Important Tool is the Person Holding It

Shereen Bryan, Senior Clinical Transformation Specialist, delivered an empowering presentation titled Checking Our Tools. The session encouraged digital midwives to pause before adding another system, process or platform to their professional toolbox and recognise the most important tool they already have themselves.

The presentation acknowledged the pressures facing maternity services and celebrated the often-unseen contribution of digital midwives. Every day, they translate technical information, support colleagues, challenge processes and help keep women and families at the centre of digital change. The session provided an opportunity to recognise the skill, humanity and resilience behind this vital work.

A picture of a busy room at the Digital Midwives Roundtable Event.

A key message was that digital midwives are much more than “the digital person.” They are clinicians, connectors, advocates and problem-solvers whose most valuable tools include clarity, compassion, confidence, courage and professional judgement. Technology can strengthen their reach and reveal valuable insights, but it cannot replace the human understanding that gives digital transformation meaning.

The session concluded by inviting each digital midwife to reclaim one of the tools they already possess, whether their voice, creativity, confidence or ability to challenge. Systems and technology will continue to evolve, but meaningful transformation will always depend on the people who connect, question, translate and care. The closing message was simple: check your toolbox, recognise what is already there and never underestimate the difference you make.

Breaking the Waters

The baton was then handed to Kerrie Blake, Clinical Transformation Support Lead, for a session titled ‘Breaking the Waters.’

Delegates were challenged to build a boat capable of carrying the most cargo. The exercise focused on teamwork and collaboration, reinforcing themes discussed throughout the morning.

A speaker presenting at the Digital Midwives Roundtable.

Developing the Alignment Tool

Nikki McPhee, Clinical Transformation Specialist, introduced a proposed alignment tool that will be shared with each Trust to help identify unused system functionality and areas of inconsistent documentation. The insights gathered will inform targeted support and optimisation activities, aiming to improve system utilisation and ultimately enhance patient outcomes.

Jackie Russell, Clinical Transformation Specialist, advised that a meeting invitation will be circulated later, potentially in November, for System C and the Digital Midwives to discuss the alignment tool in more detail. Subject to agreement, implementation of the tool is expected to commence in the New Year.

Take Aways

Looking back on the day, one of the key takeaways was just how much can be achieved when people come together to learn from one another. The theme of building your digital toolbox wasn’t only about systems, processes or technology; it was also about the people around us and the knowledge they bring.

A picture of our Clinical Transformation Team at the Digital Midwives Roundtable Event.

Throughout the day, a common message emerged: collaboration, shared responsibility and the importance of working together. The networking and conversations were just as valuable as the presentations, giving attendees the opportunity to share ideas, discuss challenges and celebrate successes. The event reinforced the idea that no single organisation has all the answers, but by building connections and learning from one another, digital maternity services can continue to evolve and improve outcomes for women and families. The event’s focus on connection, collaboration and shared learning reflected this message throughout the day.

Next Steps

Explore our extensive collection of blogs to stay informed, inspired and ahead of the curve. Whether you are seeking expert advice on digital healthcare transformation or more information about BadgerNet and NHS Maternity Services, we have something for everyone.

Please get in touch with our friendly team of experts today. We’re here to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.