Creating Robust SOPs for Infant Security in NHS Maternity Hospitals

When it comes to infant safety, NHS maternity hospitals are held to the highest standards — and rightly so. With over 600,000 births taking place annually in the UK, establishing and following clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for infant security is not just a regulatory expectation, it’s a matter of safeguarding lives and ensuring parental peace of mind.

At Xtag Medical, we support over 65 NHS Trusts in protecting newborns with our advanced infant security system. In this article, we’ll outline the key components of effective SOPs and explain how technology can help hospitals implement them seamlessly.

Why Are Infant Security SOPs So Important?

SOPs provide a clear, standardised framework for preventing incidents such as:

• Infant abduction or unauthorised removal
• Mismatched discharge of mother and baby
• Staff confusion or delayed response to alerts

By defining consistent procedures, maternity wards can ensure that every team member knows what to do, when to do it, and how to escalate issues.

What Should an NHS Infant Security SOP Include?

1. Tag Application Procedure

• When and how to apply the infant security tag (usually within minutes of birth)
• Use of hypoallergenic, tamper-proof bands

2. Exit Protection Workflow

• Monitoring of secure doors and corridors
• Real-time alerting when a baby approaches an unauthorised area
• Escalation SOP in case of an Exit Alarm

3. Tamper & Tag-Off Response

• Procedure for when a tag is removed or tampered with
• Use of skin-sensing and under-band detection
• When to notify security and escalate to clinical leadership

4. Daily System Checks & Maintenance

• Tag battery health and status reviews
• Functional test of sounder strobes and exit sensors
• Monthly system audit logs – required for CQC compliance

How Xtag Medical Supports SOP Implementation

We don’t just supply hardware — we help hospitals build and maintain their infant safety protocols.

• On-site training with midwives and ward staff
• Custom SOP templates based on NHS workflows
• 24/7 UK-based support team
• Built-in alert tracking and audit logging for compliance

NHS Requirements & CQC Compliance

Every SOP must align with:

• Care Quality Commission (CQC) safety regulations
• NHS Net-Zero procurement goals
• Infection prevention protocols for wearable devices

As a trusted NHS supplier Xtag Medical work continuously to meet and exceeds these standards. We're UKAS Management Systems accredited to ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 45001 Health & Safety Management, ISO 27001 Information Security Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Managemement - and our infant security systems are fully CQC-compliant.

Conclusion

Creating and following strong SOPs for infant security is not just a best practice — it's a necessity. Whether you're building your procedures from scratch or updating them to meet new standards, Xtag Medical is here to help.

Visit our Infant Security Systems page to learn more or contact us to book a live demo.