Recurring concern

Unreliable centralised CTG monitoring systems

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First reported 17 Dec 2021•Latest report 2 Dec 2024

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures in the dedicated centralised CTG monitoring process, including local governance and operating policy, allocation of responsibility, display and technical use, regular review of centrally monitored CTGs, escalation of concerning traces and assurance that the system is used as intended.

Not included

  • Excludes general CTG interpretation training or competence failures where centralised monitoring is not the deficient process.
  • Excludes fetal monitoring, CTG acquisition or interpretation failures that are unrelated to a centralised monitoring board or equivalent centralised CTG system.
  • Excludes failures occurring after a centrally monitored CTG has been reliably reviewed and escalated, including downstream obstetric treatment or delivery decisions.
  • Excludes generic maternity staffing, communication, documentation or governance deficiencies unless they directly impair centralised CTG monitoring.
Reports
2

Distinct published reports

Individual concerns
2

A report can raise multiple concerns

Date range
2021–2024

First to latest report issue date

Stated actions
3

Described in published responses

Reports over time

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital1
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust1
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust1
NHS England1

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

  1. Inner West London

    AI-generated summary

    Elton Deutekom · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Elton suffered acute hypoxic-ischaemic injury following a placental abruption during labour and was delivered by forceps at 04:35 on 12 January 2022; despite resuscitation, he was recognised as life extinct at 05:12. The report identifies failures to recognise and respond to abnormal CTG changes, and raises wider concerns about neonatal death referrals, disclosure of evidence, record-keeping, staffing, supervision and CTG monitoring.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of a regular CTG review system on the central CTG monitoring board

    Wider context from the report

    “6. That there is no regular review system for CTGs on the central CTG monitoring board. ”

    Source location

    Elton Deutekom · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 4 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Update intrapartum fetal monitoring guidance to require bedside CTG confirmation and hourly holistic review with discussion between clinicians.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “This was accepted following on from the HSIB report and as a direct result of the recommendations, the Trust updated the current Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring Guideline to confirm that all CTG’s must be confirmed at a patient’s bedside. This is in line with the NICE Guidance and the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle v3 that says a holistic review should take place hourly. The holistic review incorporates a categorisation of the CTG and requires a discussion between the midwife caring for the woman/birthing person and another midwife or doctor, which cannot be achieved at the central CTG monitoring screen, the outcome of this holistic review is discussed with the woman/birthing person. The CTG central monitoring screen can be a useful tool in supporting MDT discussions and teaching of fetal wellbeing.”

    Source location

    Response from Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
    Page 6 · response
    Published 3 December 2024

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    The Maternity and Neonatal Programme cannot comment on local CTG review practice or guidance.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “That there is no regular review system for CTGs on the central CTG monitoring board (concern no.6)”

    Source location

    Response from NHS England
    Page 2 · response
    Published 3 December 2024

    Open published response
  2. Inner North London

    AI-generated summary

    Ziggy Dylan MITCHELL-STAGG · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Ziggy was born by emergency Caesarean section at Homerton University Hospital on 3 April 2021 in a very compromised state and died a few hours later. The concerns included inconsistent terminology for meconium, a lack of a medical-record entry by the attending obstetric registrar after 3.46am, no local policy on centralised CTG monitoring, and a trust policy providing for fresh-eyes reviews every two hours rather than the hourly national guidance.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of a local policy for use of centralised CTG monitoring

    Wider context from the report

    “3. I was told that your trust does not have a local policy regarding the use of centralised CTG monitoring, and it seems that such a policy merits consideration. ”

    Source location

    Ziggy Dylan MITCHELL-STAGG · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Establish and approve a local policy for centralised CTG monitoring.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “A Policy has been drafted and has been signed off and approved. This will be circulated via an email to all staff and will be part of the daily handovers.”

    Source location

    2021-0425-Homerton-University-Hospital_Published
    Page 2 · response
    Published 22 December 2021

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Circulate the approved centralised CTG monitoring policy to staff and include it in daily handovers.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “A Policy has been drafted and has been signed off and approved. This will be circulated via an email to all staff and will be part of the daily handovers.”

    Source location

    2021-0425-Homerton-University-Hospital_Published
    Page 2 · response
    Published 22 December 2021

    Open published response
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Data last updated 7 September 2026