Karen Howell, chief executive of Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, writes for the Globe.

YOU may recall me writing about the launch of our innovative Pulse Oximetry@Home Service at the beginning of the year.

Over a short space of time the service has gone from strength to strength and has supported over 1,000 people in Wirral who tested positive for Covid-19.

Working in partnership with Maternity Services at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, our Pulse Oximetry@Home Team is now providing dedicated support to pregnant women and those who have recently given birth and tested positive for the virus.

The team is working closely with partner organisations to identify if an individual needs to go to hospital for specialist treatment like oxygen, steroids, or antibiotics.

Pregnant women and those who have recently given birth are more likely to get severely-ill from Covid-19 compared to non-pregnant women.

We know that patients with serious coronavirus symptoms often do not go to hospital early enough to get the medical support they need, but by knowing and monitoring oxygen saturation levels people can keep a close eye on how their symptoms are progressing and access the right treatment at the right time.

Pregnant and post-partum women who test positive for the virus, now have access to the Pulse Oxymetry@Home Service.

Our team of skilled clinicians make sure that oxygen levels are monitored safely at home by providing a small device called a pulse oximetry monitor which clips onto the finger and monitors oxygen levels in the blood.

After a minute, or so, results are displayed with ideal oxygen levels being between 95% and 99%.

Once people with coronavirus have access to one of these devices, the team provide training in how to record oxygen levels at various times throughout the day to reduce the risk of serious deterioration.

We also encourage people to record changes in their breathing and how they are feeling.

By recording this information, they can tell if they are getting better or getting more unwell and our clinical team can quickly respond.

New mum Claire said: "It was really reassuring to know what my oxygen levels were, and I was so worried about my baby whilst I felt so unwell.

"It was great to have the nurses keep an eye on me.”

If you have Covid-19, please speak to your Midwife or GP about a referral into our Pulse Oximetry@Home Service for a pulse oximetry monitor.

Remember, Covid-19 vaccines offer pregnant women the best protection against COVID-19 disease.

The first dose of vaccine will give you good protection, but you also need the second dose to get longer lasting protection.

For more information visit www.gov.uk

You can find out more about our Pulse Oximetry@Home Service by visiting www.wchc.nhs.uk

Although the pandemic has enabled our teams to work and provide care differently, we can't escape the fact that it has been an extremely challenging time for us all.

It has impacted our daily lives on so many different levels with the younger generation having felt an enormous impact over the last 12 months with schools, colleges and universities closing their doors to the majority to help stop the spread of Covid-19.

With the closing of schools lots of children and young people have missed out on their routine vaccinations and that's why our 0-19 Health and Wellbeing Service are running appointment only clinics for year eight or year nine students who have missed their HPV, Diphtheria/Tetanus/Polio (DTP) or Meningitis vaccines.

To book an appointment or to check if your child has missed any of their vaccines call 0151 514 2510.

Take care and stay safe.