The purpose of this guide is to give both service providers and members of the public an overview of HIQA’s approach to monitoring against the National Standards for Safer Better Maternity Services. This is a new monitoring programme which HIQA commenced in 2018. This monitoring programme will place a particular focus on obstetric emergencies.

This guide has been revised (version 1.3) in June 2019 and may be revised periodically as this monitoring programme progresses and or changes.