Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new electronic maternity records system at Bedford Hospital, marking an important step towards improving maternity care and digital services for local families.
The new system, called BadgerNet, went live on 3 November 2026 and replaces traditional paper maternity records with a secure digital system. It will allow maternity teams to access and update patient information in real time across hospital and community settings.
The move is expected to improve communication, support continuity of care and reduce some of the risks associated with paper records, such as illegible handwriting, duplicated notes and delays in accessing important information.
An important feature of the new system is Badger Notes, a digital portal that gives women and birthing people direct access to their maternity information. This includes the ability to view their records, appointments and important updates throughout their pregnancy, helping them stay informed and involved in their care.
BadgerNet is already widely used across the NHS, with around 60% of maternity units in England and 99% of neonatal units using the system. Its introduction will also make it easier and more secure for relevant maternity and neonatal information to be shared between NHS organisations, supporting families who access care across different hospitals and services.
Following the successful launch at Bedford Hospital, the Trust is planning to introduce BadgerNet at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital on 8 December 2026.
The introduction of the system forms part of Bedfordshire Hospitals’ wider digital transformation programme and supports the NHS ambition to improve access to secure, joined-up electronic patient records.
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