Maternity app and electronic health record to be rolled out in Wales

The Welsh government has announced that an electronic health record (EHR) and app will be rolled out across the country to enable mothers-to-be to access their full maternity records instantly.

The Badger Net app from System C, which provides tailored updates after appointments and messages to ensure a healthy pregnancy, alongside the EHR is expected to be available in across Wales by March 2026.

Sarah Murphy, minister for mental health and wellbeing in Wales, said: “I’m excited to see a new app being rolled out across Wales. It will help empower mothers-to-be and give them a real say in their maternity care.

The EHR is aimed at ensuring that clinicians have access to real time insights and information required on pregnancy to enhance safety for mums and babies.

Paper notes will be replaced by the app, allowing women to view booked appointments, learn more about their baby’s development and track progress weekly, enter blood pressure readings if asked by their midwife, and personalise details and preferences quickly, including where they want to give birth and any allergies they may have.

Sue Tranka, chief nursing officer for Wales, said: “The app and electronic health record will help improve the quality and safety of care for women and babies across Wales.

“For women in Wales, having a digital record for maternity care means having access to the right care, at the right time, no matter where they are, helping to make their health and maternity journeys smoother and more supported.”

“This will also make it simpler for healthcare professionals to share important information, to make quick, informed decisions, giving women the personalized care they deserve.”

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board was the first in Wales to introduce the digital system in February 2024 followed by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

Elleanor Griffiths, senior lead midwife informatics specialist at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: “Using Digital Maternity Records helps us to support public health initiatives by enabling rapid access to data, such as identifying women for RSV vaccinations, and supporting vulnerable women with tailored care.

“The ability to review a woman’s history, send reminders, and access comprehensive reports significantly improves the quality of care.

“Being a patient-facing app, it empowers women and birthing people by providing easy access to their records and key information, enabling informed decisions about their care.”

The Welsh government first announced in January 2023 that it was investing £7 million to create a unified digital system for country-wide maternity services, to improve the care that women and their babies receive.

Commenting, Julie Richards, director for Wales at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said: “We know maternity services can deliver safer and more personalised care using digital technology, so the RCM really welcomes this investment.

“For too long maternity services have been overlooked and left at the back of the queue when it comes to digital investment.”

Meanwhile, in October 2024, BadgerNet maternity EHR was rolled out across NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.