The use of telemetry in labour: results of a national online survey of UK maternity units

Current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, in the United Kingdom (UK), recommend that telemetry is offered to any woman who needs continuous cardiotocography in labour. An online survey of 168 maternity units in the UK was undertaken between November 2013 and February 2014 to determine how many units in the UK offered telemetry to women in labour and in what circumstances it is used. The response rate was 62% (n = 104). 63% (n = 65) of responding units had at least one cardiotocography machine that could monitor the fetal heart via telemetry. Telemetry was used most often for women having experienced a previous caesarean section and respondents felt that mobility and satisfaction with labour experience were most likely to be positively influenced by telemetry. The survey gives an indication of how often and for whom telemetry is being used in the UK and describes benefits, such as increased choice and control that maternity units see for women using telemetry.