Placental growth factor testing (FOI)

Request

In parts of the UK - a same-day life-saving test to rule out a potentially fatal disease in pregnant women being rolled out across the NHS.

Known as placental growth factor (PLGF) testing, the new blood test is the first of its kind in the world to rule out pre-eclampsia (a life-threatening condition for both pregnant women and their babies that often results in long hospital stays) and has already helped thousands of expectant mothers. The test means the condition can be ruled out on the same day, relieving stress and anxiety for those given the all clear, and allowing treatment to swiftly start for those who need it.

Currently, 65,000 pregnant women a year are admitted to hospital every year for up to three days to be monitored for the condition.

Women experiencing symptoms, such as high blood pressure and headaches, which usually occur in the second half of pregnancy, will be advised by their GP or midwife to attend hospital for the blood test as part of a full clinical assessment.

Therefore would it be possible to find out the following:

A

Will Jersey be supplying the test to pregnant women?

B

If not - why?

C

How many women have suffered with pre-eclampsia in Jersey?

Please may you break this up into five year periods and then each of the past five years)

D

How many women have died from pre-eclampsia?

E

How many babies also died because of pre-eclampsia?

I would like the information to go back 10 years or more if possible.  The last 20 year would be ideal.

Response

A and B

The Maternity Unit is currently reviewing all diagnostic testing, of which PLGF will form part of this review. The maternity department follows National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance with management of hypertension in pregnancy. While PLGF is an excellent tool for the swift detection of pre-eclampsia, the review will allow HCS to fully understand the current prevalence of hypertensive disorders within in the maternity population and find out what services are needed.

C  

This data is not currently captured separately, as hypertension is individual rather than generic. The way data is collected is under review. Hypertension currently affects 3% to 5% of all pregnancies. Based on Jersey’s birth rate, it is estimated to affect between 25 to 30 women per year.

D

Deaths were first registered digitally from 1 January 2018 and therefore the requested statistics can only be extrapolated from that date. Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied to data held prior to 2018, as it would take longer than 12.5 hours to collate.

Between 1 January 2018 and 23 September 2021, no deaths were registered where pre-eclampsia was recorded as a cause of death.

E

Deaths were first registered digitally from 1 January 2018 and therefore the requested statistics can only be extrapolated from that date. Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied to data held prior to 2018, as it would take longer than 12.5 hours to collate.

Between 1 January 2018 and 23 September 2021, no deaths were registered where pre-eclampsia was recorded as a cause of death.

Article applied

Article 16 A scheduled public authority may refuse to supply information if cost excessive

(1) A scheduled public authority that has been requested to supply information may refuse to supply the information if it estimates that the cost of doing so would exceed an amount determined in the manner prescribed by Regulations.

Regulation 2 (1) of the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014 allows an authority to refuse a request for information where the estimated cost of dealing with the request would exceed the specified amount of the cost limit of £500. This is the estimated cost of one person spending 12.5 working hours in determining whether the department holds the information, locating, retrieving and extracting the information.