ABBREVIATIONS TO BE USED WITHIN THE MATERNITY

SETTING–CLINICAL GUIDELINE
V.3 2017
1. Aim/Purpose of this Guideline
The objective of this guideline is to provide all health professionals, working within the
maternity department who are required to document in maternity records, a list of accepted
abbreviations.

2. The Guidance
The following abbreviations may be used within royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust maternity
notes for record keeping purposes. Please note that if an abbreviation is not found on this
list, then it must NOT be used.

ALT - Alanine Transferase EPMA-Electronic Prescribing Medication

APH - Antepartum haemorrhage Administration
ARM - Artificial rupture of membranes

BCG - Bacillus Calmete-Guerin FBC - Full blood count

(Tuberculosis Vaccine) FH - Fetal heart
BP - Blood pressure FHH - Fetal heart heard
BPM - Beats per minute FMF - Fetal movements felt
BMI - Body mass index FGM Female genital Mutilation

CCT - Controlled cord traction GA - General anaesthetic

DDH – Developmental dysplasia of the
hips
CTG - Cardiotocograph
CVS - Chorionic Villus Sampling
CRP - C/Reactive Protein
CSU – Catheter Stream Urine
CEFM-Continuous Electronic Fetal
Monitoring
DAU - Day Assessment Unit
DOB - Date of birth
DVT - Deep vein thrombosis
ECV - External cephalic version
EDD - Estimated date of delivery
EPU - Early Pregnancy Unit
ERPC - Evacuation of retained products
of Conception
EGU - Emergency gynae clinic
GBS - Group B Strep
GTT - Glucose Tolerance Test
GP - General Practitioner
G & S - Group and screen
GDM-Gestational Diabetes
Hb - Haemoglobin
HepB - Hepatitis B
HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HVS - High vaginal swab
IA-Intermittent Auscultation
IM - Intra muscular
IV - Intravenous
IVI - Intravenous infusion
IUGR - Interuterine growth restriction
IOL – Induction of labour
LFT - Liver function test
LMP - Last menstrual period
LOA - Left occipito anterior
LOL - Left occipito lateral
LOP - Left occipito posterior
LSCS - Lower segment caesarean
section
MEOWS - Modified Obstetric Early
Warning Score
MSU - Midstream specimen of urine
NAD - No abnormality detected
NICE - National Institute for Health &
Care Excellence
NNU - Neonatal Unit
NBBS - Newborn blood spot screening
OP - Occipito posterior
OA - Occipito anterior
PR - Per rectum
PPH - Post partum haemorrhage
PV - Per vagina
PCR - Protein creatine ratio
Rh - Rhesus
RM - Registered Midwife
RN - Registered General Nurse
ROA - Right occipito anterior
ROP - Right occipito posterior
ROL - Right occipito lateral
SBR - Serum bilirubin
STan- ST analysis
SFH - Symphasis fundal height
SROM - Spontaneous rupture of
membranes
SGA - Small for Gestational Age
St/M - Student Midwife
SVD - Spontaneous vaginal delivery
TENS - Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve
Stimulation
TOP - Termination of pregnancy
TPR - Temperature, pulse, respiration
TTO - To take out (medication)
U&E’s - Urea & Electrolytes
UTI - Urinary Tract Infection
USS - Ultrasound Scan
VE - Vaginal examination
VDRL - Venereal Disease Research
Laboratory
VBAC - Vaginal birth after Caesarean
Section
VTE - Venous Thromboembolism
Monitoring compliance and effectiveness

Element to be Abbreviations used within maternity records

monitored
Lead Maternity Forum
Tool Are abbreviations used in line with the approved abbreviations list
Frequency 10 sets of notes once in the lifetime of this guidelines
Reporting Maternity Forum
arrangements
Acting on If deficiencies are identified an action plan will be developed and
recommendations monitored through the Maternity Forum
and Lead(s)
Change in Maternity Forum and Risk Management Newsletter
practice and
lessons to be
shared

3. Equality and Diversity

3.1. This document complies with the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust service
Equality and Diversity statement.

3.2. Equality Impact Assessment

The Initial Equality Impact Assessment Screening Form is at Appendix 2.

Appendix 1. Governance Information

ABBREVIATIONS TO BE USED WITHIN
Document Title THE MATERNITY SETTING – CLINICAL
GUIDELINE

Date Issued/Approved: 11th April 2017

Date Valid From: 11th April 2017

Date Valid To: 11th April 2020

Directorate / Department responsible Clare Sizer, Risk Management midwife

(author/owner): Obs and Gynae Directorate

Contact details: 01872 25 5955

 To give guidance on approved abbreviations
Brief summary of contents to all health professionals who are required
to document in maternity records

Abbreviation abbreviations labour delivery

Suggested Keywords:
antenatal postnatal
RCHT PCH CFT KCCG
Target Audience

Executive Director responsible for
Medical Director
Policy:
Date revised: 11th April
This document replaces (exact title of Clinical Guideline For Maternity Approved
previous version): Abbreviations
Midwifery Guidelines Group
Approval route (names of
Obs & Gynae Directorate
committees)/consultation:
Divisional Board
Divisional Manager confirming
Head of Midwifery
approval processes
Name and Post Title of additional
Not Required
signatories
Signature of Executive Director giving
{Original Copy Signed}
approval
Publication Location (refer to Policy
on Policies – Approvals and Internet & Intranet  Intranet Only
Ratification):
Document Library Folder/Sub Folder Clinical/Midwifery and Obstetrics
Links to key external standards CNST 1.7
None
Related Documents/ References.

Training Need Identified? No

Version Control Table

Version Changes Made by

Date Summary of Changes
No (Name and Job Title)
12th Jan Clarkson
December 1.0 Initial Issue Maternity Risk
2011 Manager
 Elizabeth Anderson
6th May Addition of abbreviations, FH, FHH, MEOWS,
1.2 Practice Development
2014 NICE, RGN, SGA and St/M
Midwife

11th April Katherine Lane,

1.3 Updated
2017 Preceptee Midwife

All or part of this document can be released under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000

This document is to be retained for 10 years from the date of expiry.

This document is only valid on the day of printing

Controlled Document
This document has been created following the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Policy on Document Production. It should not be altered in any way without the
express permission of the author or their Line Manager.
Appendix 2. Initial Equality Impact Assessment Form
Name of Name of the strategy / policy /proposal / service function to be assessed (hereafter
referred to as policy) (Provide brief description): ABBREVIATIONS TO BE USED WITHIN
THE MATERNITY SETTING – CLINICAL GUIDELINE
Directorate and service area: Is this a new or existing Policy?
Obs & Gynae Directorate Existing

Name of individual completing Telephone:

assessment: Clare sizer 01872 255019

1. Policy Aim* To provide all health professionals, who are required to document in
Who is the strategy / maternity records, guidance on approved abbreviations
policy / proposal /
service function
aimed at?
2. Policy Objectives* To ensure a good standard of documentation and record keeping
within the maternity service
3. Policy – intended A good standard of documentation and record keeping
Outcomes*

4. *How will you Compliance monitoring

measure the
outcome?
5. Who is intended to Patients and all health professionals working within the maternity
benefit from the setting of Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust
policy?
6a) Is consultation No
required with the
workforce, equality
groups, local interest
groups etc. around
this policy?

b) If yes, have these

*groups been
consulted?

C). Please list any

groups who have
been consulted about
this procedure.

7. The Impact
Please complete the following table.

Are there concerns that the policy could have differential impact on:
Equality Strands: Yes No Rationale for Assessment / Existing Evidence
Age X All woman
Sex (male, female, trans- X All woman
gender / gender
reassignment)

Race / Ethnic X All woman

communities /groups

Disability - X All woman

learning
disability, physical
disability, sensory
impairment and
mental health
problems
Religion / X All woman
other beliefs
Marriage and civil X All woman
partnership
Pregnancy and maternity X All woman

Sexual Orientation, X All woman

Bisexual, Gay, heterosexual,
Lesbian
You will need to continue to a full Equality Impact Assessment if the following have been
highlighted:
 You have ticked “Yes” in any column above and
 No consultation or evidence of there being consultation- this excludes any policies
which have been identified as not requiring consultation. or
 Major service redesign or development
8. Please indicate if a full equality analysis is recommended. Yes No
X
9. If you are not recommending a Full Impact assessment please explain why.

N/A

Signature of policy developer / lead manager / director Date of completion and submission
6th May 2014

Names and signatures of 1. Clare Sizer

members carrying out the 2.
Screening Assessment

Keep one copy and send a copy to the Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion Lead,
c/o Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Human Resources Department, Knowledge Spa,
Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3HD

A summary of the results will be published on the Trust’s web site.

Signed: Sarah-Jane Pedler

Date: 11th April 2017