Simple Telehealth: Mild Hypertension in Pregnancy.

What is Telehealth?

Telehealth is technology designed to support you to manage your medical condition, remain independent and recognise early signs of deterioration. It allows you and your healthcare team to monitor your condition and remain at home for as much as possible.

What is Simple Telehealth?

Simple Telehealth is a computerised system accessed via your mobile phone. It gives you prompts and advice to act on if you need a little more assistance from your obstetric team. The system lets you and your healthcare team monitor your condition by text messages on your mobile phone.

Why are you being asked to do this?

Your healthcare team believe this system will help to support you to manage your blood pressure in pregnancy while saving you time travelling to the Hospital or GP surgery for regular routine tests.

How will it work?

You will be contacted via text asking you for your readings, you will then take your Blood Pressure and urine protein reading and text in the result on your phone.

• Protein – e.g. P1
• Blood Pressure – e.g. BP 120/80

How will I know how to contact Telehealth?

You will receive a text from a special number asking if you have any symptoms. If you are well, it will then ask you to send in your readings. You may receive a prompt or two to remind you your readings are due.

What happens next?

Once you have sent the text, your readings will be checked against a guide set up for you by your healthcare team. You will receive a text back either telling you all is well or giving you further advice, such as asking you to retake your readings, or contact your healthcare professional.

If you are requested to phone the hospital you will either speak to the Day Unit or the Labour Ward.

Who will see my text messages?

The service is confidential and can only be accessed by the healthcare team who are looking after you.

Opting in and Out

If you are invited to join Telehealth by one of your healthcare team, you will be sent a short message to your mobile phone asking you to confirm you want to join. You should reply with ‘YES’ if you wish to do so.

If at some point you decide not to use it, you can simply send ‘STOP’ and that will stop everything. It’s entirely your choice.

Mild Hypertension in Pregnancy (increased blood pressure)

Pregnancy induced hypertension develops after 20 weeks of gestation, and goes away within 6 weeks of delivery.

• Mild high blood pressure is between 140/90 and 149/99.
• Moderate high blood pressure is between 150/100 and 159/109.
• Severe blood pressure is 160/110 and above.

High blood pressure can also cause:

• protein in the urine
• rapid swelling of your feet, face and hands
• severe headaches
• visual disturbance
• upper abdominal pain
• vomiting

This condition affects approximately one out of every 14 pregnant women and occurs more commonly during first pregnancies, if you are overweight, you are over 40 years old, your last baby was over 10 years ago, or you have had high blood pressure in your last pregnancy. Your healthcare team will work with you, using Telehealth, to manage your blood pressure to ensure your pregnancy and delivery progress without any problems.

Further Information

Health Care Team Contact Details

University Hospital North Tees

01642 624239
Mon – Fri, 9am-9pm
Sat – Sun, 9am-5pm

University Hospital Hartlepool

01429 522879
Mon – Fri, 9am-5pm
In an Emergency call 999.

If you do not receive a text from Telehealth to remind you on any of the below dates, you must ring one of the contact numbers above.

Useful websites

www.nhs.uk

This information was correct at the time of printing.

While the Trust makes every reasonable effort to keep its information leaflets up to date, very recent changes may not yet be reflected in the guidance and you should discuss this with the clinical staff at the time of your appointment.

Comments, concerns, compliments or complaints

Patient Experience Team (PET)

We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we’re doing well or if there’s anything which we can improve, that’s why the Patient Experience Team (PET) is here to help. Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. The office is based on the ground floor at the University Hospital of North Tees if you wish to discuss concerns in person. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact:

Telephone: 01642 624719

Freephone: 0800 092 0084

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm

Email: [email protected]

Out of hours

Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person.

Telephone: 01642 617617

Data protection and use of patient information

The Trust has developed Data Protection policies in accordance with Data Protection Legislation (UK General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect these policies and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information on how we process your information please see our Privacy Notices.

Telephone: 01642 383551

Email: [email protected]

Leaflet feedback

This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Clinical Governance team, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of North Tees, TS19 8PE or:

Email: [email protected]