Take part in research to help reduce hospital visits for pregnant women during COVID-19

Cork University Maternity Hospital are seeking volunteers to take part in a new research study called LEANBH. If you're pregnant and need additional blood pressure monitoring, you can take part in the research study that aims to improve care by offering safe, accurate and convenient monitoring of your blood pressure (BP) at home.

For more information and to take part, download the patient information leaflet.

The purpose of the study is to recruit women who require closer BP monitoring during their current pregnancy. The LEANBH study will use home BP monitoring as an adjunct to standard care for women with borderline/ suspected hypertension in pregnancy or for women who are at risk of developing high blood pressure in pregnancy.

Women recruited will take their BP three times daily using a MicroLife automated blood pressure device and results will automatically be uploaded via the LEANBH mobile application which participants will have downloaded on their phones. Readings will be monitored daily by the clinical research team led by Dr Fergus McCarthy and patients contacted when a change in clinical care is required.

The LEANBH study hopes to recruit 500 women over the next 6 months who have borderline/ suspected hypertension in pregnancy or for women who are at risk of developing high blood pressure in pregnancy.

Dr McCarthy said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to improve our care for pregnant women by offering them safe, accurate and convenient monitoring of their blood pressure in pregnancy in the comfort of their homes with results monitored by an in-house team of midwives and doctors.

There is huge potential to extend this project nationally, and relook at how we offer care to all our pregnant women to ensure they have as safe a pregnancy as possible."

If you have any questions in relation to the study please don’t hesitate to contact the clinical research team as follows;

LEANBH MOBILE - 087 4072867

Dawn (Research Midwife) - 086 3327791

Last Modified Date: 25/08/2020 13:51:07

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In the interest of patient and public safety, we regret that strict visitor restrictions are in place in Cork University Maternity Hospital. We understand how difficult this may be and we will be there to support you. We thank you for your understanding. 

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