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Midwifery Quality Assurance Dashboard

Background

NIPEC, on behalf of the Chief Midwifery Officer (CMidO) for Northern Ireland, is leading a regional project to develop a Midwifery Quality Assurance Dashboard. The project will support a consistent approach to measuring, monitoring and reporting the quality of midwifery care across Northern Ireland. It responds to recommendations from recent maternity reviews and aligns with the Quality Excellence Framework: An Assurance Framework for Nurses and Midwives.

Aim

To develop a regional Midwifery Quality Assurance Dashboard incorporating a core set of quality indicators that demonstrate the value, impact and professionalism of midwifery practice.

Objectives

The project will:

  • Review existing midwifery quality indicators used across Health and Social Care organisations.
  • Identify evidence-based indicators from regional, national and international sources.
  • Engage stakeholders in the development of the dashboard.
  • Develop and test a core set of standardised quality indicators.
  • Establish governance and reporting arrangements.
  • Design and implement a regional Midwifery Quality Assurance Dashboard.

Methodology

A regional Project Working Group will be established with representation from Health and Social Care Trusts and key stakeholders.

The project will be delivered through four stages:

  1. Evidence review and scoping of existing indicators.
  2. Development of a core set of quality indicators.
  3. Testing and evaluation of proposed measures.
  4. Development and implementation of the dashboard.

Expected Outcomes

The project will:

  • Support a regional approach to measuring midwifery quality.
  • Strengthen quality assurance and governance arrangements.
  • Demonstrate the contribution of midwives to outcomes for women, babies and families.
  • Support quality improvement, benchmarking and shared learning across Northern Ireland.

Project Outputs

The project will produce:

  • A suite of agreed regional midwifery quality indicators.
  • Indicator definitions and reporting guidance.
  • A Midwifery Quality Assurance Dashboard.
  • A final report with recommendations for implementation and future governance.

Project Status

Status: In Progress

Project Lead: Brenda Carson

Project Duration: September 2026 – November 2027