Maternity & Midwifery Forum

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Midwifery Sector News

“Behaviour is an invisible cloak that you think nobody can see… Embroider your cloak with love, kindness, goodwill, integrity, truth and honour”

Paul
England’s first Chief Midwifery Officer was appointed earlier this year. The appointment marked a shift in maternity and midwifery care in the NHS both towards midwife-led care for women and towards midwives becoming an ever-more self-governing group.   In this presentation, Jennifer ‘Jenny the Midwife’ Clarke explains that a true......
Midwifery Sector News

“We felt so in awe of [our midwife]… We felt that she was so special.”

Paul
We’ve all heard of ‘Continuity of Carer’ in midwifery – it is a key component of the NHS’ move towards Better Births. Not so long ago, the (private) continuity of care service Neighbourhood Midwives in Walthamstow made the news when it closed unexpectedly, to the consternation of many expectant parents. ......
Midwifery Sector News

Normal Birth…What’s going on?

Paul
In most contexts, ‘normal’ is a boring word – but within the world of maternity and midwifery it is a contentious one. Between them, Sheena Byrom OBE and Professor Soo Downe OBE have some 75 years of experience in midwifery practise.  Many of those years have been spent actively researching......
Midwifery Sector News

Northern Maternity & Midwifery Festival 2019 Award Winners Announced

Paul
Team Award Winner: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Maternity Service
Midwives from across the North of England were recently honoured at the second annual Northern Maternity & Midwifery Festival Awards. The Awards ceremony took place at at Old Trafford Football Stadium in Manchester on Tuesday 25th June, the big winners on the day included Cathy Atherton, Retired Head of Midwifery, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Maternity......
Midwifery Sector News

LIVE STREAM: Northern Maternity & Midwifery Festival 2019

Paul
Wales_SW_Festival_Live_Stream
The Northern Maternity & Midwifery Festival 2019 takes place on Tuesday 25th June at Old Trafford Football Stadium, Manchester. We are expecting around 600 midwives and healthcare professionals to join us on the day, but if you are unable to attend in person you can watch a live stream of......
Midwifery Sector News

Mental Health and Stress in Maternity

Paul
The UK Health and Social Care Secretary announced new plans for better mental health and wellbeing care for NHS midwives, based on the HEE report on the mental health and wellbeing of NHS staff and learners.  In her extremely popular presentation to the Midlands Maternity & Midwifery Festival, Dr Sally......
Midwifery Sector News

Northern Maternity & Midwifery Festival Awards 2019 Shortlist Announced

Paul
The Northern Maternity & Midwifery Festival takes place at Old Trafford Football Stadium, Manchester on Tuesday 25th June 2019. The festival will feature our usual mix of high quality speakers, the latest industry innovations in our exhibition area, free taster treatments in our wellbeing zone and of course our second annual Northern midwifery awards......
Midwifery Sector News

Complex Care in Caseloading: the way forward for ALL pregnancies

Paul
Maternity services are under increased debate.  Rethinking methods of delivery, personalisation of care pushing back against increased caesarean sections and increased focus on postnatal care.  Into this mix groups of midwives, of which 121 midwives are an example, are working outside the institutional structures of the NHS to give women......
Midwifery Sector News

How can all women be given the choice and the options? 

Paul
In a week of fevered speculation about how Archie, the son of the Duchess of Sussex’s was to be born it was clear that, whatever finally happened, whether it was a home birth or at the private Portland Hospital, the Duchess had informed choice and the infrastructure to make it......
Midwifery Sector News

The Case for Parental Voices in Perinatal Mortality Review

Paul
Watching the start of the “infected Blood Enquiry” into the 1970s contaminated blood products scandal which had such devastating effect on the haemophiliac community and others is hard. 3000 died. The Enquiry started with heart rending testimonials from those affected, and the relatives of the dead.  The Grenfell Enquiry started......