The initiative, which offers free data and SIM cards to women without access to digital devices is part of a partnership with the Good Things Foundation, a digital inclusion charity.
Under the project, maternity services can register to become a maternity digital hub, providing essential digital resources to those in need. This service ensures that women have access to free data from the early stages of pregnancy and through the postnatal period.
The Trust is the first in the Herts and West Essex Integrated Care System to become a maternity digital hub.
Penny Snowden, Director of Midwifery, said: “We are committed to ensuring that every woman receives the best possible care and information during their pregnancy and postnatal period. By providing free data and SIM cards, we are breaking down barriers and ensuring that digital technology enhances, rather than hinders, access to essential health information and support.”
Expectant mothers can be referred to this service by their community midwife and can self-refer to the Trust. If they inform their midwife they need support with digital access, they will then be referred to the digital maternity team who can connect them to the right service for help.
Additionally, the Trust runs a digital clinic via an interpreter to help women who don’t speak English to access public health information. The Trust has developed a toolkit to help midwives identify patients who may need the support of the digital inclusion scheme.
