The obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) care bundle project

Summary

In the past 10 years, rates of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (OASI) have increased in England. Experiences in some maternity units have shown that some of the underlying problems related to this rise in OASI include:

• Inconsistencies in approaches to preventing OASIs
• Inconsistencies in training and skills
• Lack of awareness of risk factors and long-term impact of OASIs
• Variation in practice between health professionals

In light of this, the OASI care bundle team have developed and piloted an intervention package, including a care bundle and guide, a multidisciplinary skills development module for health care professionals, and campaign materials (such as leaflets and newsletters designed to raise awareness).

This scaling up programme is a collaboration between the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), with funding provided by The Health Foundation.