Five Common Security Oversights in NHS Maternity Wards and How to Avoid Them

Creating a safe and secure maternity environment is a core responsibility for every NHS Trust. While newborn stranger abductions are rare in the UK, the rise in family-related abductions are rising and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) continues to emphasise the importance of robust maternity ward security, clear processes, and modern infant protection systems to minimise risk.

Yet even well-run maternity units can develop blind spots. Below are five of the most common security oversights seen across UK maternity services - and practical steps Trusts can take to address them.

1. Unsecured Access Points and Poor Perimeter Control

One of the biggest risks to maternity ward safety is inconsistent access control. Multiple entrances, unsecured fire exits, or swipe-card doors regularly left open can create opportunities for unauthorised individuals to enter clinical areas.

How to avoid this

• Conduct a security perimeter survey at least annually.
• Ensure access control integrates with your Trust’s wider security infrastructure.
• Implement clear staff responsibilities for door-checking and escalation.
• Review staff access permissions as teams change.‍

‍Learn more about maternity access control best practice: Maternity Unit Design & Security: NHS Best Practices.

2. Gaps in Infant Identification Processes

Manual baby ID processes can vary between midwives and shifts, causing inconsistencies and increasing the risk of mix-ups or vulnerabilities being missed.

How to avoid this

• Adopt a clear, Trust-wide infant identification protocol.
• Conduct regular audits on wristband usage and replacement.
• Integrate identification checks into electronic patient record (EPR) workflows.

Many hospitals now combine ID checks with infant security tagging systems to provide an extra safety layer.

3. Slow or Fragmented Incident Escalation

NHS leadership often highlights delays in escalation as a major contributor to avoidable harm. In the context of maternity ward security, slow communication during suspicious events - or uncertainty over who should respond - can prolong risk.

How to avoid this

• Establish a clear maternity security escalation pathway, including roles for midwives, security staff, and the on-call manager.
• Use technology that provides instant alerts to the right teams (e.g., security, maternity manager).
• Build scenario-based security drills into mandatory training and develop a SOP.

This ensures that, if a baby is removed from the ward or approaches an exit, alerts reach the right staff instantly.

4. Overreliance on Manual Observation‍

Staffing pressures mean midwives and support workers cannot always monitor access points or unfamiliar visitors. Reliance on manual checks alone can leave gaps, especially during high-activity periods.

How to avoid this

• Use infant abduction prevention systems that monitor exits automatically.
• Invest in CCTV coverage aligned to the maternity footprint.
• Ensure ward design supports natural surveillance and reduces blind spots.
• Provide all staff, including temporary staff with basic security awareness training.

Technology should support and streamline staff responsibilities, not add to them.

5.  Non-Integrated Baby Tagging Technology

Some Trusts still use legacy infant protection systems that offer limited functionality, poor integration, or no remote reporting. These older systems can produce false alarms or gaps in monitoring, leading to clinical frustration and over-reliance on manual processes.

How to avoid this

• Audit existing systems for reliability, uptime, and interoperability with your EPR or security platforms.
• Ensure your system offers: Real-time infant location awareness, automatic exit prevention, full audit logs for governance, and integration options for Trust security workflows.
• Choose solutions that are easy to maintain and supported by strong UK-based service teams.

Modern systems like XTAG® Baby Tagging are designed for seamless integration and minimal operational burden, improving both safety and staff experience.

See how XTAG supports maternity safeguarding: XTAG® Baby Tagging System.

Creating a Robust, Modern Maternity Security Strategy

Security in maternity units is not just about preventing abduction - it’s about delivering a consistently safe environment that supports clinical workflows, reassures families, and aligns with NHS patient safety standards.

By addressing the five oversights above, Trusts can significantly improve the resilience of their maternity services.

Key considerations for NHS leaders:

• When did your Trust last conduct a maternity security review?
• Are your infant ID and access control processes consistent across both day and night shifts?
• Is your current infant tagging system providing the data, reporting, and reliability you need?
• Do staff feel clear on escalation pathways during security incidents?

Strengthening maternity security is not about replacing clinical skill - it's about empowering staff with the right tools, protocols, and support.

Want to benchmark your maternity ward’s security?

Xtag Medical offers complimentary maternity security assessments for NHS Trusts, helping you identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.

Book a maternity security review: Contact Us.