Working towards excellence on improving escalation in perinatal teams

We would like to welcome you to the Autumn ABC Educational session on Tuesday 20th October 12.00 - 13.30 in collaboration with the Patient Safety Collaborative. This session is free to join.

This session will explore learning from escalation challenges in maternity settings through collaboration with frontline teams, identify factors that support effective escalation, and develop practical approaches to strengthen teamwork, communication and psychological safety. 

Fetal monitoring specialist Midwife, Vicky Hugo, from Southmead Hospital in Bristol will be sharing her work and findings of working in collaboration with perinatal teams, exploring the challenges and barriers around escalating, and ways to improve more timely escalation.

Within this MS Teams virtual session you will:

• Reflect on common barriers and enablers to effective escalation in maternity services.
• Understand how psychological safety influences speaking up and responding to concerns.
• Identify strengths and positive behaviours already present within teams.
• Explore practical strategies to improve escalation processes and multidisciplinary teamwork.
• Develop actions that support a culture of learning, openness and continuous improvement.

Following the session, certificates will be sent out to provide evidence for hours towards yours continual professional development evidence.

Why This Matters

Escalation processes are fundamental to ensuring timely responses to clinical risks, deteriorating situations and service pressures within maternity care.

When escalation is effective:

• Concerns are recognised early.
• Staff feel confident to speak up.
• Teams respond promptly and collaboratively.
• Service users receive safer care.
• Learning is shared across teams.

Got a question?

If you have a question about this event, please contact Angie Willis or Asha Dhany: angela.willis5@nhs.net & asha.dhany1@nhs.net

Sign up here to receive your MS Teams link for Tuesday 20th October 2026, 12:00 - 13:30