Community support boosts maternity monitoring at Basildon Hospital

More than £40,000 of charitable funding has supported significant improvements to maternity monitoring at Basildon Hospital, contributing to enhancements in the care provided to expectant mothers.

As part of a wider upgrade, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust introduced new wall-mounted and mobile CTG machines to replace previous monitoring equipment. Charity funding allowed the addition of central monitoring technology, bringing all patient monitoring into one unified system used across antenatal, labour and maternity theatre areas.

Although maternity units have always used monitoring equipment, pregnancies have become more complex in recent years, with more women requiring regular observation. Staff on Basildon’s busy antenatal ward, which has seven beds and four overflow beds, identified the need for improved equipment and technology to ensure patients can be monitored without delay.

CTG machines assess fetal wellbeing by monitoring the baby’s heart rate and uterine activity. They are used when concerns arise – such as reduced fetal movements, complications like diabetes, or high-risk pregnancies. Increasing the availability of modern machines allows staff to respond more quickly and consistently, even during busy periods.

A key element of the joint NHS and charity project is the installation of charity-funded Centrale central monitoring software. This connects all CTG machines to one central hub, allowing midwives and consultants to review multiple patients’ monitoring readings at once on a single screen, improving oversight and further supporting faster clinical decisions.

Danielle Atkins, Fetal Monitoring Lead Midwife at Basildon Hospital, said: “Central monitoring gives us a clear, real-time view of what’s happening across the whole maternity unit. Being able to review multiple patients at once helps us make quicker decisions, prioritise care more effectively, and work more efficiently as a team. It’s a real step forward for patient safety.”

The upgrade also standardises technology across the unit, replacing a mix of machines with one consistent system.

Lucy Thomas-Clayton, Director of Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity, said: “We’re proud to have supported this important project. By funding the central monitoring system, we’ve helped give staff greater visibility and support safer and helped provide continued responsive care for women and babies.”

The upgraded system is now in place and already helping maternity teams deliver more efficient, coordinated care for local families.