National Maternity data — Robson Ten Group Classification system (TGCS)

Data Collection Type
National data collections of health and social care in Ireland
Organisation

National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 5th Floor, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Wilton, Cork.

Year established

The Robson TGCS has been collected by units since 2009 however in 2015 it was decided it would be collected nationally by the NPEC and in 2020 all units collected data.

Statement of purpose

The Robson Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) is a classification system by which all perinatal events and outcomes can be compared. The system classifies all pregnant women into one of ten groups, each of which are mutually exclusive and, as a set, comprehensive.

This system has been used extensively internationally to analyse caesarean deliveries. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the Robson TGCS as the global standard for assessing, monitoring, and comparing CS rates within and between healthcare facilities over time.

Coverage (geographical and temporal)

All 19 units collected data in 2020 for Robson TGCS.

Description/Summary

Designated data coordinators within all maternity units collate and submit data on Robson TGCS to the NPEC.

Data users

Maternity services staff, perinatal mortality data coordinators, hospital senior management, hospital risk management, policy developers in the HSE, DOH staff, service users.

Data content

Aggregate data on CS and number of maternities in each group.

Data dictionary

Available on request from npec@ucc.ie

National-level identifier variables

No.

Equity stratifiers

No.

Data collection methodology

Data is submitted on an excel template frequencies varies across units.

Clinical coding scheme

N/A.

Size of national collection

Data is collected on all maternities and caesarean sections in Ireland.

Publication frequency

Updates are available from the NPEC website, the Robson Data is used in the PM and SMM annual reports.

Accessing data

NPEC have a data access policy. Applicants must complete a data request form which is reviewed by a data access committee.

https://www.ucc.ie/en/npec/dataaccesscommittee/dataaccesscommittee/

Open data portal access

No

Email contact
Telephone contact