Obstetric Anaesthesia and Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
358825
Contact name
Mathew Lyons
Contact email
Research summary
Obstetric Anaesthesia
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
25/NI/0135
Date of REC Opinion
13 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
The database will collect and store information related to maternity care for pregnant women within NHS Lothian. This includes data from antenatal through to postpartum care and captures a wide range of details such as maternal health, childbirth procedures, and neonatal outcomes. The information is collated from routine healthcare records and includes sensitive health data and indirect identifiers like age and ethnicity, which are pseudonymised for research purposes. This process ensures patient confidentiality is maintained while allowing researchers access to the necessary data to conduct meaningful analyses. Data is securely held within NHS Lothian infrastructure, and de-identified datasets are available for research following strict governance protocols and approvals.
Research programme
The research programme aims to enhance obstetric anaesthetic care by applying advanced data science methodologies to electronic health records. By focusing on optimising anaesthetic interventions, enhancing predictive capabilities, improving long-term maternal outcomes, and advancing evidence-based practices, the programme seeks to transform clinical guidelines and improve care quality. Through a number of linked projects, the research explores the effects of anaesthetic practices on childbirth outcomes, refining protocols and identifying risks for postnatal mental health disorders. This research will produce evidence-based findings that inform clinical guidelines, ensuring equitable and optimal care across diverse populations. The overall goal is to generate robust insights that influence local and international practices, ultimately enhancing safety and patient experience in obstetric anaesthesia.
Research database title
Obstetric Anaesthesia
Establishment organisation
NHS Lothian
Establishment organisation address
51 Little France Crescent
EH16 4SA