Women having a planned caesarean birth at Waikato Hospital are now experiencing a calmer, more comfortable and personalised start to their big day, thanks to a new care pathway developed by staff across multiple teams.
Planned caesarean patients are now prepared for surgery through the Day of Surgery Admission (DOSA) unit, giving them access to a dedicated planned-care environment and reducing the long waits that some families previously experienced. Arrivals are staggered throughout the day and patients are supported by nurses specifically trained to prepare people for surgery.
The DOSA team has worked closely with Women's Health staff to understand the specific needs of pregnant people and their whānau, including supporting birth preferences and preparing for the arrival of a new baby.
Anaesthetist Dr Caroline Ariaens says the change grew out of extensive feedback from patients and staff.
"We wanted to understand the experience from the patient's perspective and identify where we could make meaningful improvements," says Dr Ariaens.
The teams reviewed patient feedback, surveyed more than 100 former patients and mapped the journey from admission through to the postnatal ward. The work highlighted opportunities to improve comfort, privacy and communication before surgery.
"We want planned caesarean patients to have access to the same planned care processes that other surgical patients receive. DOSA provides a calmer and more organised environment that's specifically designed for planned care, helping create a more comfortable experience for people preparing to welcome their baby,” says Dr Ariaens.
The new approach also means patients spend less time waiting and fasting before surgery, which is particularly important for families travelling long distances to Waikato Hospital.
Anju Sebastian, the first person to have her baby delivered through the new pathway, said the experience helped ease her nerves on what was already a significant day.
“I was quite nervous when I arrived at hospital for my caesarean section,” says Anju. “However, the entire team visited us before the surgery and explained the process in detail. This really helped to reduce my anxiety and build a connection with the team.
“We felt very comfortable throughout the process, and the direct transfer to the operating theatre was particularly helpful as it avoided having to interact with multiple people or visitors along the way. It created a calm and reassuring experience.”
Dr Ariaens says the benefits extend beyond the individual patient experience.
"If we can design processes that work better for patients, while providing some efficiency gains, that will allow us to care for more people as our population grows and demand increases,” says Dr Ariaens.
"This project has shown the value of clinicians and managers working together to make changes that are meaningful for patients."