Labour and birth information for each hospital in British Columbia is now available on a searchable website to expectant mothers, their families, the general public, and healthcare providers.
The information is being provided by Perinatal Services BC (PSBC), an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, to help maternity care providers continue to improve care and support the best outcomes for mothers and babies. The information can also help women have informed conversations with their doctors, midwives, or nurse practitioners about their labour and delivery options.
PSBC collects comprehensive perinatal information through the BC Perinatal Data Registry, a database containing clinical information on all births collected from hospitals and registered midwives who attend births at home.
This is the first time the hospital-level data are being shared publicly.
For further context, the website provides definitions of the indicators and why they are important. In addition, hospitals that deliver similar numbers of babies each year are assigned to peer groups on the website, and each hospital’s rate is presented alongside the peer group rate and the provincial rate.
These data can help keep expectant mothers and their families better informed about the health services they receive and help them prepare for their birth experience. Women with questions or concerns are encouraged to discuss them with their doctors, midwives, or nurse practitioners.
For more information, visit www.perinatalservicesbc.ca.