Social risk assessment within maternity services
Case reference FOI2026/01917
Received 19 May 2026
Published 9 July 2026
Request
1. Does your maternity service routinely collect and record data relating to social risk, however this may be termed locally (e.g. vulnerability, complex social factors, social needs)? (yes/no)
2. If yes to Q1: approximately how many women using your maternity services were identified as having at least one social risk factor in the financial year 2024/25, where such data are routinely recorded? If an exact figure is not readily available, an estimate or the most recent available figure would be helpful.
3. Does your maternity service currently use the MatDAT (Maternity Disadvantage Assessment Tool), or any other standardised tool, to assess social risk in pregnancy/postnatally? (yes/no; if yes, please specify)
4. At which points during maternity care are social risk assessments routinely completed or reviewed? (e.g. booking appointment, 28 weeks, admission for birth, postnatal care)
5. Which Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system is primarily used in your maternity service to document social risk? (e.g. Badgernet, K2, EPIC)
Response
REQUEST: 1. Does your maternity service routinely collect and record data relating to social risk, however this may be termed locally (e.g. vulnerability, complex social factors, social needs)? (yes/no)
Yes Oxford University Hospitals maternity services routinely collect and record information relating to social risk factors
2. If yes to Q1: approximately how many women using your maternity services were identified as having at least one social risk factor in the financial year 2024/25, where such data are routinely recorded? If an exact figure is not readily available, an estimate or the most recent available figure would be helpful.
During the 2024/25 financial year, approximately 30% of women booking for maternity care were identified as having at least one social risk factor.
3. Does your maternity service currently use the MatDAT (Maternity Disadvantage Assessment Tool), or any other standardised tool, to assess social risk in pregnancy/postnatally? (yes/no; if yes, please specify)
The Maternity service is currently evaluating the implementation of the Maternity Disadvantage Assessment Tool. Prior to this, a health and social assessment process is used. The Maternity Disadvantage Assessment Tool will be aligned with Oxfordshire thresholds of need to support a consistent approach and shared language across health and social care services.
4. At which points during maternity care are social risk assessments routinely completed or reviewed? (e.g. booking appointment, 28 weeks, admission for birth, postnatal care)
Social risk assessments are routinely undertaken at the booking appointment, following any significant event, and again at 28 weeks of pregnancy. There are also plans to introduce a postnatal assessment as part of the implementation of the Maternity Disadvantage Assessment Tool.
5. Which Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system is primarily used in your maternity service to document social risk? (e.g. Badgernet, K2, EPIC)
Information relating to social risk is documented within the Badgernet maternity electronic patient record system and the Trust-wide electronic patient record system Cerner to ensure safeguarding concerns can be viewed by relevant healthcare professionals involved in a woman's care.
Documents
This is Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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