Service Model
Fetal medicine services are organised into fetal medicine networks. The fetal medicine services within the networks provide level 1, 2, 3a and 3b care. Designated level 3 (a and b) leads the fetal medicine networks to ensure that all patients can access the care and support that they need.
The care and support are delivered by fetal medicine networks through a multi-disciplinary team approach.
The fetal medicine services are designated by commissioners to work in locally determined networks and provide levels of care linked to their specific expertise.
The levels of care are structured into levels 1, 2, 3a and 3b as outlined in the table below: -
|
Level |
Services available |
Requires co-location with other services |
Receives referrals from other units |
|
3b |
Fetoscopic interventions in addition to level 3 diagnostic and therapeutic invasive procedures |
Yes |
Yes |
|
3a |
Diagnostic and therapeutic invasive procedures |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2 |
Diagnostic invasive procedures limited to amniocentesis (unless skills for performing CVS are present by two or more clinicians) and therapeutic invasive procedures limited to singleton feticide and amniodrainage where skills are present by two or more clinicians) |
No |
Yes |
|
1 |
Specialist consultation /counselling and ultrasound diagnosis |
No |
No |
Attached to the service specification as appendix one, is a matrix chart (need a copy of this) that describes the diagnosis, management, interventions, and co-dependencies linked to the levels of care provided by fetal medicine services.
The diagnosis, management, interventions, imaging, and counselling are determined by a fetal medicine multi-disciplinary team approach working across a range of specialties (e.g., neonatology, paediatric surgery, paediatric cardiology, clinical genetics, paediatric urologists/nephrologists, paediatric neurologists, radiologists, virologists, bereavement, and palliative care support).