IFS Wales

IFS Wales (Intrapartum Fetal Surveillance Wales) is a national maternity safety and learning programme funded by the Welsh Risk Pool. Fetal monitoring has been identified as a critical contributory factor in cases where improvements in care may have prevented a poor outcome. Between 2021 and 2024, intrapartum fetal surveillance was a contributing factor in 24 out of 95 reimbursed clinical negligence maternity claims in NHS Wales, resulting in payments exceeding 20 million pounds, alongside immeasurable emotional distress to families.

A scoping review in early 2023 highlighted significant variation in the provision of fetal monitoring training across NHS Wales and identified a clear appetite for a standardised approach. In response, a national multiprofessional team of consultant obstetricians and specialist midwives was recruited in May 2023, coordinated by the Welsh Risk Pool Safety and Learning Team.

IFS Wales is a full day, face to face multiprofessional training programme for all midwives and obstetric doctors. The programme covers the following areas:

• Fetal physiology and cardiotocography (CTG) interpretation
• Intermittent auscultation
• Escalation strategies
• Human factors including situational awareness, teamworking and communication

IFS Wales directly responds to Standard 4 of the All Wales Intrapartum Fetal Surveillance Standards (2023) and aligns with the priorities set out in The Path to Safer Beginnings in Wales (Holland,2026). The programme is further supported by a range ok UK national reports and recommendation, including the Ockenden Report, the East Kent Review and MBRRACE-UK, all of which consistently call for structured, mandatory and multiprofessional training in fetal.