All pregnant women being cared for by the maternity services at Derriford Hospital will now be offered a new combined screening service for Down's Syndrome.
More than 4,400 babies are born to women every year either at Derriford Hospital or delivered at home by midwives.
The new screening service will be available to all women who book for pregnancy care from Monday 7 July 2008. The mother-to-be will be given information about the screening tests at their first point of contact about their pregnancy and she can decide whether or not she wants to go ahead with the test.
The new screening programme will mean that all pregnant women will be offered screening in the first trimester of pregnancy (to include a blood test from 10 weeks gestation and a dating/nuchal scan between 11 weeks and 13 weeks and 6 days gestation).
The test involves combining information from a blood test with features seen on a scan to calculate the chance of the fetus being affected by Down's Syndrome. Maternal age and past history are also considered.
If the results show a high chance, the mother may be offered additional tests such as CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling).
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Ross Welch said: "Antenatal screening tests are an important option for mothers-to-be because they allow us to pick up any concerns as early as possible.
"At Derriford, we now offer all the recommended antenatal screening tests and this new screening service which we will be offering from next week gives women an even wider choice at the earliest possible stage of pregnancy."
Dr Alison Mackenzie, Consultant in Public Health, said: "We're really pleased that we can now offer this new Down's syndrome screening test here in Plymouth. Down's syndrome is the most common chromosomal abnormality and having a baby with Down's syndrome can be an important choice for families. Having this test is completely optional and pregnant women can discuss with their midwife or GP whether they want it or not."
For further information contact
the Press and Communications Office
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust on 0845 155 8207
