Unconscious bias – should there be a concern about unconscious incompetence?
March 21st was the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination. In this article Sarah Esegbona-Adeigbe, Senior Midwifery lecturer at London South Bank university, and steering group member for the Maternity and Midwifery Forum, addresses the importance of dealing with unconscious bias in healthcare. Unconscious bias- should there be......
Tackling Bias in Healthcare Settings: Developing a Health Inequalities Strategy across the South East Region
It is of concern that there is inequity of access and outcomes within maternity services. Aiming to address the inequity the perinatal mental health team at NHSE South East region have created a filmed educational resource. In this article Jenny Walsh, Clinical Lead for Perinatal Mental Health, describes the creation......
INFANT MENTAL HEALTH: Focus on parent-infant relationships to give babies the best start in life
Globally midwives have an important role in supporting the attachment of parents to their new baby in the early weeks after birth. It is of concern that priority for postnatal services in recent years have continued to decline, with the latest Care Quality Commission maternity survey report highlighting decreased satisfaction......
Care and decision making in pregnancy – NIHR Evidence on the support women need
The UK National Institute for Health research, who fund research on maternity services, have pulled together the evidence on the support women need into one place. They explain the work below Pregnancy and childbirth can be joyful experiences. But they are not without risk and maternity services offer skilled support......
Working through COVID: A reflection on a shift
At the start of the COVID pandemic member of the RCN Midwifery Forum Committee, and Maternity and Midwifery steering group, Judy Evans, practising bank midwife and nurse signed up with NHS England to offer service. No immediate work was offered (thousands had no doubt signed up plus returnees to the......
March with Midwives: Is This Our Moment?
In November 2021 a vigil, March with Midwives, was held by birthworkers and birth supporters across the country to support midwives against a backdrop of poor staffing levels and the continued political and media storm. A further demonstration of support is to be held on March 13th in London and......