Reports

  • Streptococcus B in pregnancy: to screen or not to screen?

    The media are pushing for universal screening of pregnant women for group B streptococcus and treatment with antibiotics, but their stories often don’t mention the potential harms,

    Publisher: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
    Published Date: 18/04/2012

  • Managed clinical networks in neonatal care

    Reduces morbidity after preterm births but regionalisation of obstetric care is key

    Publisher: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
    Published Date: 03/04/2012

  • Infant milks in the UK: a practical guide for health professionals

    This updated report aimed at health professionals provides information on the composition of infant milks available for sale in the UK and summarises some of the key issues related to the artificial feeding of infants.

    Publisher: First Steps Nutrition Trust
    Published Date: 31/03/2012

  • The professionalising of breast feeding—Where are we a decade on?

    This paper is an empirically informed opinion piece revisiting an argument published in Midwifery 10 years ago, that the increasing professionalisation of breast feeding was not supporting women in Australia in sustainin ...

    Publisher: Midwifery
    Published Date: 12/03/2012

  • Twins and multiples healthcare survey: making progress

    This report highlights the need for improvements in maternity antenatal care for women having twins, triplets or more. It calls for more flexibility around ward visiting for partners; more consistent advice and encourage ...

    Publisher: TAMBA - The Twin and Multiple Birth Association
    Published Date: 11/03/2012

  • The paradox of choice in maternity care

    Current policy advocates choice and control for women within maternity care and promotes women as active childbirth consumers and decision-makers (DH, 2007; DH, 2004) This model equates choice to increased quality of exp ...

    Publisher: Journal of Neonatal Nursing
    Published Date: 18/02/2012

  • CADTH Rapid Response Report: Second hand smoke and pregnant women

    This Rapid Response Report from the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) reviews the clinical evidence regarding the effect of second hand smoke on the health of pregnant women and their unborn ch ...

    Publisher: National electronic Library for Medicines (NeLM)
    Published Date: 13/02/2012

  • Preventing babies’ deaths: what needs to be done

    Report highlighting how the Stillbirth and neonatal death charity (Sands) believes that up to 1,200 babies lives could be saved each year through a combination of more research, better care, and a greater awareness of st ...

    Publisher: Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society)
    Published Date: 18/01/2012

  • Place of birth in England: Still a contentious issue?

    Numerous publication space has been devoted during recent years to the on-going debate about the relative benefits and risks of giving birth in different settings, including hospital, alongside or free-standing birth cen ...

    Publisher: Midwifery
    Published Date: 14/01/2012

  • Supervision, support and safety: NMC quality assurance of the LSAs 2010-2011

    Report on the statutory supervision of midwives in the UK containing the analysis of the annual report received from every local supervising authority (LSA) in the UK for the practice year 2010-2011. LSAs are impartial ...

    Publisher: Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
    Published Date: 03/01/2012

  • Parents’ experiences of neonatal care:a report on the findings from a national survey

    National survey highlights shortcomings in neonatal care and finds parents not given enough information about their baby’s condition and treatment

    Publisher: Picker Institute Europe
    Published Date: 14/12/2011

  • The case for change: supporting neonatal services in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

    Reviewing the designation of neonatal services can be an emotionally challenging prospect. It can be difficult to change the case mix of a unit and is often seen as a negative by parents and healthcare professionals who ...

    Publisher: Journal of Neonatal Nursing
    Published Date: 06/12/2011

  • The feasibility and insurability of independent midwifery in England report

    This report concerns the current unavailability of personal indemnity (PI) insurance for 'independent midwives' to meet the requirements of EU Directive (2011/24/EU) which makes insurance compulsory and a proposal for ma ...

    Publisher: Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
    Published Date: 24/11/2011

  • State of maternity services report

    The Royal College of Midwives has released its first State of Maternity Services report. The report looks at a number of indicators of the pressures on maternity care and the resources available to cope in each of the fo ...

    Publisher: Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
    Published Date: 23/11/2011

  • Multiples in the newborn intensive care unit: parents' and nurses' perspectives

    This article reviews the literature pertaining to multiple births and will consider and explore some of the key issues specifically related to higher order multiple (HOM) births from both parent and nursing perspectives. ...

    Publisher: Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews
    Published Date: 03/11/2011

  • Cuts to the neonatal nursing workforce

    Cuts to frontline nursing staff are putting the lives of England’s sickest babies at risk according to a Bliss survey carried out in July 2011 of all England’s neonatal units has found. A summary of the survey results an ...

    Publisher: Bliss
    Published Date: 17/10/2011

  • Maternity and paternity rights and women returners survey 2009-10

    This report examines the impact of the Families Act on mothers' engagement and experiences in the labour market. It includes findings on maternity and paternity leave and pay, mothers who returned to work and those who d ...

    Publisher: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
    Published Date: 06/10/2011

  • Policy and pragmatism in breast feeding

    The optimal duration of exclusive breast feeding is a subject of continuing debate. Most recently Fewtrell and colleagues have challenged the evidence underpinning the 2002 World Health Assembly endorsement of the recomm ...

    Publisher: Archives of Disease in Childhood
    Published Date: 13/09/2011

  • What is meant by one-to-one support in labour: analysing the concept

    The term one-to-one support in labour is used in a range of research reports and policy documents internationally without a clear consensus on definition. The aim of this paper is to examine the variety of meanings and t ...

    Publisher: Midwifery
    Published Date: 09/09/2011

  • How can family centred care be improved to meet the needs of parents with a premature baby in neonatal intensive care?

    A final year nursing student spent time across two neonatal intensive care units during clinical practice in 2010. Significant differences were noted in the way professionals involved family in their baby's care. This ar ...

    Publisher: Journal of Neonatal Nursing
    Published Date: 01/09/2011

  • The first 1000 days: a legacy for life (audio)

    Could adult health be determined by our environment and nutrition in the first thousand days of life, or even many years earlier? In this three part series on BBC Radio 4, Dr Mark Porter investigates. A strong body of sc ...

    Publisher: BBC Radio 4
    Published Date: 26/08/2011

  • The nine months that made you (video)

    This BBC Horizon programme examines how the nine months you spend in the womb could have more lasting effects than lifestyle or genes. It looks at how the theory of Professor David Barker has inspired a field of study th ...

    Publisher: BBC Two - Horizon
    Published Date: 22/08/2011

  • Local Supervising Authority (LSA) Annual Report to the Nursing and Midwifery Council 2010-2011 (Wales)

    Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) published (Tuesday 16 August 2011) its third Local Supervising Authority (LSA) Annual Report on the Statutory Supervision of Midwives in Wales. HIW took on the role of the Local Sup ...

    Publisher: Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW)
    Published Date: 17/08/2011

  • Maternal mortality in the UK and the need for obstetric physicians

    Most deaths are now caused by preventable or treatable medical conditions

    Publisher: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
    Published Date: 09/08/2011

  • A Panoramic view of staff shortfalls

    The difficulties faced by maternity services in providing a high level of care in labour have been put under the spotlight following an investigation by BBC Panorama. With maternity services in the UK grappling with the ...

    Publisher: British Journal of Midwifery
    Published Date: 04/08/2011

  • Picking and choosing

    Triage has been used successfully to manage admissions on emergency wards for years, but could the service work on a labour ward? This article reports on the success of Plymouth maternity unit’s pilot project, which was ...

    Publisher: Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
    Published Date: 25/07/2011

  • High quality women’s health care: a proposal for change

    This report by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, (RCOG) looks at how NHS women’s health services could be configured to provide high quality, safe and timely care. Against a backdrop of NHS reform, f ...

    Publisher: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)
    Published Date: 13/07/2011

  • Workforce risks and opportunities: nursing and midwifery

    This report reviews the key workforce risks and opportunities within the nursing and midwifery workforce in 2011 and beyond. The purpose of this project is to provide an assessment of current workforce issues and potenti ...

    Publisher: Centre for Workforce Intelligence
    Published Date: 13/07/2011

  • Improving maternal and infant health and care: at admission in labour and promoting attachment and breastfeeding in neonatal units. Evidence into practice consultations

    A report of region-wide consultations in Yorkshire and the Humber which can be used in a number of different ways including: The basis of planned practice and service development, to inform education and training, and ...

    Publisher: University of York
    Published Date: 29/06/2011

  • How clinically driven antenatal care can deliver better value maternity services

    Evidence based care employed at a maternity unit delivered better value services and enabled more women to meet with their consultant.

    Publisher: Health Service Journal (HSJ)
    Published Date: 13/06/2011

  • Breastfeeding: working together

    The NHS landscape is changing, but the importance of women and midwives working collaboratively to support breastfeeding remains, as Francesca Entwistle, Mary Renfrew, Alison Baum, Sue Ashmore and Janet Fyle explore.

    Publisher: Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
    Published Date: 10/06/2011

  • Prevention is the best cure

    Midwives’ work puts them in regular contact with families, meaning they are ideally placed to encourage the uptake of immunisations. Kathryn Higham takes a look at a new resource that can provide further information arou ...

    Publisher: Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
    Published Date: 10/06/2011

  • A perspective on SIDS pathogenesis. The hypotheses: plausibility and evidence

    Several theories of the underlying mechanisms of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) have been proposed. These theories have born relatively narrow beach-head research programs attracting generous research funding sustai ...

    Publisher: BMC Medicine
    Published Date: 27/05/2011

  • Stillbirths: the vision for 2020

    This final paper in the Stillbirths Series, calls for inclusion of stillbirth as a recognised outcome in all relevant international health reports and initiatives.

    Publisher: The Lancet
    Published Date: 20/05/2011

  • The digital age: top breastfeeding resources (USA)

    The Surgeon General’s call to action mandates that health professionals do all they can to support breastfeeding mothers (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2011). This article focuses on the different types ...

    Publisher: Journal of Pediatric Health Care
    Published Date: 19/05/2011

  • Guidance for withdrawal and withholding of intensive care as part of neonatal end-of-life care

    Introduction Advances in foetal medicine and neonatology have enabled increased antenatal diagnosis of life-limiting conditions and improved preterm survival, escalating the debate surrounding the ethics of neonatal end- ...

    Publisher: British Medical Bulletin
    Published Date: 19/05/2011

  • The effect of the developing role of the maternity support worker on the professional accountability of the midwife

    The recent rise in the number of maternity support workers (MSWs) in the United Kingdom (UK) has been welcomed by midwifery managers and supported by social policy surrounding improvements in maternity care. The training ...

    Publisher: Midwifery
    Published Date: 14/05/2011

  • Advocacy organisations as partners in pre-eclampsia progress: patient involvement improves outcomes

    Optimal maternal and neonatal health requires the expertise of maternity-care providers who base their decisions on solid research. Optimal care, however, also requires active patient participation, which is best accompl ...

    Publisher: Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
    Published Date: 13/05/2011

  • Stillbirths: the way forward in high-income countries

    Stillbirth rates in high-income countries declined dramatically from about 1940, but this decline has slowed or stalled over recent times. The present variation in stillbirth rates across and within high-income countries ...

    Publisher: The Lancet
    Published Date: 13/05/2011

  • RM+RM=better midwifery care. What do we know about associations between registered midwife staffing levels and better care for women?

    Growing research evidence suggests that there is a strong link between nurse staffing and patient outcomes in the acute sector. However, there is limited empirical evidence on the relationship between maternity staffing, ...

    Publisher: Kings College London
    Published Date: 13/05/2011

  • Stillbirths: how can health systems deliver for mothers and babies?

    The causes of stillbirths are inseparable from the causes of maternal and neonatal deaths. This report focuses on prevention of stillbirths by scale-up of care for mothers and babies at the health-system level, with cons ...

    Publisher: The Lancet
    Published Date: 06/05/2011

  • Culturing expressed breast milk: a costly and (mostly) useless procedure (Editorial)

    There is little doubt that the preferred source of enteral nutrition for preterm infants in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) is mother's own milk...

    Publisher: Journal of Perinatology
    Published Date: 28/04/2011

  • Advising on travel during pregnancy

    As travel increases, the number of pregnant women who travel will probably rise. Women often ask if travel is safe in pregnancy and seek advice from a range of healthcare professionals.

    Publisher: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
    Published Date: 28/04/2011

  • A first-class production

    In 2008, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust became the first to implement the ‘productive ward’ on its labour suites. Jennifer Ross and Linda Stevenson report on the progress made at the City campus.

    Publisher: Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
    Published Date: 28/04/2011

  • 12 bumps are better than one…

    Article looking at how a project developed by a US midwife - a model of antenatal care, known as Centering Pregnancy - has proved a major success in a London hospital.

    Publisher: Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
    Published Date: 28/04/2011

  • Breaking through the barriers

    Despite efforts to prevent discrimination, many women with hearing difficulties have reported negative experiences of maternity services. Bernadette Gregory reveals how responding to feedback has resulted in improved com ...

    Publisher: Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
    Published Date: 28/04/2011

  • Coventry – Positive about Breastfeeding Social Marketing

    This project is to address infant mortality and obesity issues in Coventry by increasing the take-up rate of breastfeeding.

    Publisher: Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA)
    Published Date: 27/04/2011

  • Sudden unexpected deaths in infancy part II: Recommendations for practice

    This paper reviews some of the strategies for preventing the risk of SUID’s from the perspective of the health care professional giving advice to mothers/families. The paper considers some lifestyle factors, environmenta ...

    Publisher: Journal of Neonatal Nursing
    Published Date: 22/04/2011

  • Infant feeding in the 21st century

    The 21st century has brought about many advances and changes in infant feeding. These advances and changes include a renewed interest in breastfeeding (Department of Health and Human Services, 2010), new formula constitu ...

    Publisher: Journal of Pediatric Health Care
    Published Date: 21/04/2011

  • Maternal, Infant and Perinatal programme: CMACE reports

    The Maternal, Infant and Perinatal programme was previously known as the Maternal and Newborn programme. During this time, a series of reports were completed by the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) (former ...

    Publisher: Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) formerly CEMACH
    Published Date: 20/04/2011

  • Stillbirths (Lancet series)

    Around 2.6 million stillbirths (the death of a baby at 28 weeks’ gestation or more) occur each year. Although 98% of these deaths take place in low-income and middle-income countries, stillbirths also continue to affect ...

    Publisher: The Lancet
    Published Date: 14/04/2011

  • Stillbirths: why they matter

    In this first paper of The Lancet's Stillbirths Series they explore the present status of stillbirths in the world—from global health policy to a survey of community perceptions in 135 countries. Their findings highlight ...

    Publisher: The Lancet
    Published Date: 14/04/2011

  • Stillbirths: where? when? why? How to make the data count?

    Despite increasing attention and investment for maternal, neonatal, and child health, stillbirths remain invisible—not counted in the Millennium Development Goals, nor tracked by the UN, nor in the Global Burden of Disea ...

    Publisher: The Lancet
    Published Date: 14/04/2011

  • The government's response to the recommendations in frontline care: the report of the Prime Minister's Commission on the future of nursing and midwifery in England

    The is the government's response to the 20 recommendations, clustered into seven themes. It covers the socioeconomic value of nursing and midwifery, high quality, compassionate care and caring for people with long-term c ...

    Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
    Published Date: 12/04/2011

  • Customer insight work on maternity and early years

    The Department of Health have produce two documents which are a synthesis of three pieces of qualitative research undertaken by them about the experience of expectant and new parents.

    Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
    Published Date: 08/04/2011

  • Parents' views on the maternity journey and early parenthood

    The research summary is available either as a PDF or as a set of Powerpoint slides for presentation purposes. It gives valuable insights from parents on pregnancy and early parenthood services - and how these might be i ...

    Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
    Published Date: 07/04/2011

  • Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended in the first 6 months of life for healthy term infants

    Breast milk is the natural first food for human babies; it provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life. Although breastfeeding during the initial days of life has a signifi ...

    Publisher: Pediatrics & Neonatology
    Published Date: 02/04/2011

  • Assessment, surveillance and prognosis in pre-eclampsia

    The hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) remain one of the major causes of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Many international guidelines exist for the classification and assessment of women with hyperten ...

    Publisher: Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
    Published Date: 01/04/2011

  • Saving mothers' lives: reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer: 2006–2008

    Report on the confidential enquiry into maternal deaths.

    Publisher: British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
    Published Date: 25/03/2011

  • Feeling right at home

    Thanks to the dedication of a highly skilled team, a fragmented home birth service has been transformed into a beacon of good practice. This article highlights the expereiences of Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

    Publisher: Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
    Published Date: 18/03/2011

  • Success in the city

    Florence Kanikasamy reports from Barkantine Birth Centre, the first standalone inner-city NHS birth centre to open in London, which was set up in December 2007 to enable the women of Tower Hamlets to have a choice.

    Publisher: Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
    Published Date: 18/03/2011

  • With a little help from our friends

    Feedback has become a buzzword, as well as a source of anxiety for many maternity services liaison committees (MSLC). East Kent MSLC has been trying to identify trends, signpost people to appropriate services – such as t ...

    Publisher: Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
    Published Date: 18/03/2011

  • NHS staff survey 2010

    This is the eighth annual survey of NHS staff. The results help trusts to review and improve the work experiences of their staff so that they can provide better care to patients.

    Publisher: Care Quality Commission (CQC)
    Published Date: 16/03/2011

  • BMJ review: Birth at the limit of viability

    Critique of a recent documentary that considers the cost and the ethics of caring for babies born at 23 weeks’ gestation.

    Publisher: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
    Published Date: 15/03/2011

  • BBC: Warning over foetal alcohol syndrome (audio)

    Campaigners warn pregnant women that drinking alcohol can damage their child's learning ability and attention span.

    Publisher: BBC
    Published Date: 07/03/2011

  • Staffing in maternity units: Getting the right people in the right place at the right time

    Staffing in maternity units: getting the right people in the right place at the right time concludes that using midwives and other maternity staff more effectively is the key to improving maternity care. The report consi ...

    Publisher: The King’s Fund
    Published Date: 06/03/2011

  • Postnatal depression services: an investigation into NHS service provision

    In this report, the Patients Association found that the vast majority of PCTs do not know the number of mothers suffering from PND in their area and are failing to provide information on PND to new mothers. In addition, ...

    Publisher: The Patients Association
    Published Date: 06/03/2011

  • Reconfiguring hospital services: Lessons from South East London

    Reconfiguring Hospital Services: Lessons from South East London considers whether reconfiguration of hospital services is an appropriate response to the need to drive up quality and drive down costs. Based on detailed an ...

    Publisher: The King’s Fund
    Published Date: 03/03/2011

  • Won't you stay the night?

    Ward manager at the Tangmere antenatal/postnatal ward at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester Karen Bennett reveals how they set a new precedent by allowing fathers to stay overnight at the hospital.

    Publisher: Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
    Published Date: 02/03/2011

  • Saving Mothers’ Lives: Reviewing maternal deaths to make motherhood safer: 2006–2008

    The Eighth Report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom

    Publisher: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
    Published Date: 01/03/2011

  • Pre-eclampsia: Risk factors and causal models

    Pre-eclampsia is a disease of many risk factors and theoretical speculations. It is, for unknown reasons, more prevalent among primiparous women. Some observations show that a change of sexual partner before the next pr ...

    Publisher: Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
    Published Date: 23/02/2011

  • Are perinatal deaths adequately scrutinised?

    In a BBC programme, File on Four, 1 the Manchester Coroner advocated a more consistent approach to the investigation of neonatal deaths and, to obtain a consistent view of what is happening, cited his own practice of req ...

    Publisher: Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal Neonatal Ed
    Published Date: 20/02/2011

  • Newborn screening for inborn errors of metabolism: principles, policies and weighing the evidence

    Newborn screening for metabolic disorders has become a contentious issue. The aim of screening is to identify individuals at risk and start treatment before they become ill. To this end newborn screening programmes are w ...

    Publisher: Paediatrics and Child Health
    Published Date: 12/02/2011

  • Perinatal Mortality, Social Deprivation and Community Midwifery 2008-9

    NHS Perinatal Institute for maternal and child health in Birmingham published Perinatal Mortality Social Deprivation and Community Midwifery 2008-9 report. The report looks at the causes underlying perinatal mortality ...

    Publisher: Perinatal Institute
    Published Date: 07/02/2011

  • Supervision, support and safety: Analysis of the 2009-2010 LSA annual reports to the NMC

    You can now download or order a copy of the LSA annual report, containing detailed analysis of the reports provided by local supervising authorities between 2009 and 2010. Containing information on supervision, policy ...

    Publisher: Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
    Published Date: 31/01/2011

  • Scottish Perinatal and Infant Mortality and Morbidity Report 2009

    The Scottish Stillbirth and Infant Death Survey (SSBIDS) is administered by the Reproductive Health Programme of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS), working in partnership with Information Services Division of NH ...

    Publisher: NHS National Services Scotland
    Published Date: 25/01/2011

  • Recommendation for 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding examined

    A controversial new analysis suggests that introduction of solid foods before 6 months of age may reduce the risk of allergies and iron deficiency anemia compared with exclusive breastfeeding. The researchers suggest tha ...

    Publisher: Contemporary Pediatrics
    Published Date: 21/01/2011

  • Early intervention: the next steps. An independent report to her Majesty’s Government

    This is the first report from the independent review into early intervention, which was led by Graham Allen, MP.

    Publisher: Cabinet Office
    Published Date: 19/01/2011

  • Diabetes and obesity in pregnancy

    An epidemic of obesity is affecting growing numbers of women in their childbearing years increasing their risk of obstetric complications including diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, some malformations, macrosomia an ...

    Publisher: Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
    Published Date: 17/01/2011

  • BMJ: Six months of exclusive breast feeding: how good is the evidence?

    The recommendation that UK mothers should exclusively breast feed for six months is a controversial area in infant nutrition. Mary Fewtrell and colleagues review the evidence and ask if the time is right for reappraisal ...

    Publisher: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
    Published Date: 13/01/2011

  • Families in an age of austerity – how tax and benefit reform will affect UK families

    FRESH analysis of the government's raft of economic cuts identifies families with new babies as among those hardest hit by the cuts package.

    Publisher: Family and Parenting Institute
    Published Date: 10/01/2011

  • The value of the neonatal hearing screen

    Newborn hearing screening is now a core NHS service and with a current yield of 5764 deaf babies it has been a remarkable achievement. It is premature to evaluate longer-term outcomes from the screen, but the eventual wo ...

    Publisher: Paediatrics and Child Health
    Published Date: 09/01/2011

  • The Family-Nurse Partnership Programme in England: Wave 1 implementation in toddlerhood and a comparison between waves 1 and 2a of implementation in pregnancy and infancy

    This is the third year evaluation report by Birkbeck College, University of London. It examines the implementation of the final toddlerhood phase of the family nurse partnership programme in the first ten sites in Englan ...

    Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
    Published Date: 05/01/2011

  • Taking the lead

    Midwives Magazine: Macclesfield District General Hospital’s supervisor of midwives shares her experience of midwifery-led care and offers a reminder that greater autonomy means more accountability.

    Publisher: Midwives Magazine
    Published Date: 01/01/2011

  • Tackling health inequalities in infant and maternal health outcomes: report of the Infant Mortality National Support Team

    This report sets out the work of the Infant Mortality National Support Team in addressing inequalities and improving infant and maternal health in disadvantaged areas.

    Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
    Published Date: 16/12/2010

  • Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group final report

    TPIAG warns that teenage pregnancy rates will rise again if central government and local areas don’t prioritise the issue and invest in contraception and sex and relationships education.

    Publisher: Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group (TPIAG)
    Published Date: 13/12/2010

  • NHS Choices: Early work on baby screening blood test

    According to a recent press article, scientists have developed a blood test which could predict an unborn baby's risk of conditions such as Down's syndrome and autism. This “behind the headlines” report examines the evi ...

    Publisher: NHS Choices
    Published Date: 09/12/2010

  • Maternal obesity in the UK: findings from a national project

    This major national study, which collected information from every maternity unit in the UK, has revealed for the first time the prevalence of severe maternal obesity (body mass index 35+) in the UK. The report also detai ...

    Publisher: Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE)
    Published Date: 07/12/2010

  • Maternity services 2010

    This survey looked at women’s experiences of maternity care in England.

    Publisher: Care Quality Commission (CQC)
    Published Date: 02/12/2010

  • NHS Choices: Paracetamol asthma link 'uncertain'

    This "behind the headlines" report looks at the evidence behind recent press articles which asserted that children given paracetamol before the age of 15 months were more likely to suffer from allergies by the age of six ...

    Publisher: NHS Choices
    Published Date: 30/11/2010

  • The Parenting Early Intervention Programme: second interim report

    This second interim report presents the findings up to March 2010 on the implementation and impact of four evidence-based parenting programmes. It covers Incredible Years, Triple P, Strengthening Families Strengthening C ...

    Publisher: Department for Education (DfE)
    Published Date: 25/11/2010

  • Preconception care for women with diabetes: is it effective and who should provide it?

    The association between hyperglycaemia and congenital malformations was first recognised over 40 years ago and was followed by the development of preconception clinics for women with diabetes. A fresh look at preconcepti ...

    Publisher: Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
    Published Date: 20/11/2010

  • National Maternity Survey 2010

    A 2010 survey was carried out earlier this year by NPEU between. More than 5000 women who had recently given birth responded to a questionnaire about their experience of care during pregnancy, labour and birth and the ea ...

    Publisher: National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU)
    Published Date: 17/11/2010

  • Why do obstetricians and midwives still rush to clamp the cord? (BMJ Views and Reviews)

    In 2007 an editorial by Andrew Weeks advised that it was better for the baby not to rush to clamp and cut the cord at birth (BMJ 2007;335:312, doi:10.1136/bmj.39282.440787.80). He believed that it was time for us to foll ...

    Publisher: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
    Published Date: 10/11/2010

  • The chance of a lifetime? Bliss baby report 2010

    Bliss’ sixth annual report reveals how services caring for premature and sick babies are being stretched to the limit and not meeting minimum standards.

    Publisher: Bliss
    Published Date: 02/11/2010

  • Towards an end to stillbirths (Views and Reviews)

    “I am sorry: I cannot see your baby’s heart beating” are words that parents do not expect to hear. There was no mention of stillbirth in popular books about pregnancy, no suggestion in the shopping catalogues full of smi ...

    Publisher: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
    Published Date: 07/10/2010

  • Balancing risk and choice in childbirth after caesarean section

    Despite a consensus that rates of caesarean section are too high and should be reduced, the rate of vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) appears to be declining. This article explores the possible reasons for this, as we ...

    Publisher: British Journal of Midwifery
    Published Date: 07/10/2010

  • Confidential Enquiry into West Midlands Intrapartum Deaths

    This report is part of the current series of regional and local confidential enquiries being undertaken by the Perinatal Institute. It has been commissioned by the NHS West Midlands Investing for Health programme and w ...

    Publisher: Perinatal Institute
    Published Date: 07/10/2010

  • CMACE emergent theme briefing. Saving mothers' lives 2006-08: briefing on genital tract sepsis

    'Saving Mothers' Lives 2006-2008' will be officially launched in March 2011. An important and clinically significant finding has, however, emerged from this work, which has been summarised in the first CMACE Emergent Th ...

    Publisher: Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE)
    Published Date: 05/10/2010

  • Postnatal care - Still a Cinderella Story?

    This report summarises findings of an NCT survey of 1260 first-time mothers experiences of NHS postnatal care and makes 10 recomemdations for improvement of services.

    Publisher: NCT
    Published Date: 03/10/2010

  • Left to your own devices - the postnatal care experiences of 1260 first time mothers

    This report presents the findings of an NCT survey of women who became mothers for the first time in the previous 12 month period and reflects their self reported experiences of NHS postnatal care.

    Publisher: NCT
    Published Date: 03/10/2010

  • Normal birth as a measure of the quality of care

    Normal birth as a measure of the quality of care: evidence on safety, effectiveness and women’s experiences.

    Publisher: NCT
    Published Date: 29/09/2010

  • The role of GPs in maternity care – what does the future hold?

    This report suggests that GPs could take a more active role in delivering high quality maternity care by sharing responsibilities with midwives and obstetricians, particularly for women with ongoing medical conditions

    Publisher: The King’s Fund
    Published Date: 04/08/2010

  • Home birth—proceed with caution

    The increased demand to give birth outside hospital has increased the rate of home delivery. In the Netherlands, a third of women now have home births. In the UK, 3% of total births occur at home, while in the USA home d ...

    Publisher: The Lancet
    Published Date: 30/07/2010

  • Perinatal Mortality 2008

    The Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) has published its Perinatal Mortality 2008 report. The key findings are: The perinatal mortality rate in the UK continues to fall from 8.3 per 1,000 total births in ...

    Publisher: Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE)
    Published Date: 21/07/2010

  • Editorials: Neonatal outcomes in babies born out of hours

    Women should know the risks and benefits of giving birth in different settings

    Publisher: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
    Published Date: 16/07/2010

  • Bereavement Care Report 2010

    Major survey of bereavement care provided by UK maternity units to parents whose baby dies before, during or shortly after birth is published and reveals worrying disparities in care for bereaved parents.

    Publisher: UK Sands
    Published Date: 13/07/2010

  • Breastfeeding and introducing solid foods: consumer insight summary

    This report is a summary of consumer insight research carried out into breastfeeding and the introduction of solid foods by the Department of Health, strategic health authorities and primary care trusts in England. It is ...

    Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
    Published Date: 22/06/2010

  • Fetal and perinatal consequences of maternal obesity

    In many industrialised countries, one in five women booking for antenatal care is obese. As well as affecting maternal health, maternal obesity may have important adverse consequences for fetal, neonatal and long-term he ...

    Publisher: Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal Neonatal Ed
    Published Date: 07/06/2010

  • Too little, too late? - Why Europe should do more for preterm infants

    The EU policy benchmarking report, presented for the first time in the European Parliament on 6th May 2010 in Brussels, provides a compelling picture of the impact of prematurity across 13 European countries. It reveals ...

    Publisher: European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI)
    Published Date: 18/05/2010

  • Talking it through: the importance of communications when discussing local service change

    This report discusses how PCTs can communicate important decisions locally in a transparent way to help improve public understanding and constructive involvement.

    Publisher: NHS Confederation
    Published Date: 31/03/2010

  • The role of a pediatric ethics committee in the newborn intensive care unit

    Institutional Ethics Committees are commonly available in hospitals with newborn intensive care units, and may serve as a valuable resource for staff and parents dealing with difficult ethical decisions.

    Publisher: Journal of Perinatology
    Published Date: 25/03/2010

  • The socioeconomic value of nursing and midwifery: a rapid systematic review of reviews

    This Systematic Rapid Evidence Assessment (SREA) was carried out in order to discover the socioeconomic benefits which can be attributed to nursing and midwifery with respect to: mental health nursing, long-term conditio ...

    Publisher: Evidence for Policy and Practice Information (EPPI-Centre)
    Published Date: 01/01/2010

  • The maternity information gap for physically disabled people

    A UK study on physically disabled parents' experiences of maternity services reveals that physically disabled people embarking on parenthood face a number of challenges. In addition to working to provide the best start f ...

    Publisher: Disability, Pregnancy & Parenthood International
    Published Date: 01/07/2009

  • Breastfeeding review

    Breastfeeding review Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), the Primary Care Trust (PCT),the Acute Hospital Trust and Sure Start came together to review the issue of breastfeeding in the Darlington area.

    Publisher: IDeA
    Published Date: 17/04/2009

  • Supervision, support and safety: Analysis of the Local Supervising Authority Annual Reports to the Nursing & Midwifery Council

    These reports are an analysis of the information provided by the Local Supervising Authorities (LSA) to the NMC.

    Publisher: Nursing and Midwifery Council
    Published Date: 05/12/2008

  • Born Unequal: Why we need a progressive pre-birth agenda

    In Britain, by the time a baby is born, its chances of living a healthy, fulfilling life are already decided. Building on Narrowing the Gap, Louise Bamfield examines the reasons for inequalities at birth and explores the ...

    Publisher: The Fabian Society
    Published Date: 16/03/2008

  • Women's Experiences of Maternity Care in the NHS in England

    This report provides the key findings from a survey of maternity services in the NHS. It describes women's experiences of maternity care, provides a detailed picture of the current quality of maternity services and ident ...

    Publisher: Healthcare Commission (HCC)
    Published Date: 04/12/2007

  • NHS Maternity Statistics

    Ever wanted to know... * How many women gave birth by caesarean section? * How many women had an epidural? * How many women had a 'normal' delivery? The annual maternity publication can answer all of ...

    Publisher: The Health and Social Care Information Centre (IC)
    Published Date: 28/06/2007

  • Special delivery or second class: are we failing special care babies in the UK?

    BLISS today (17 April) launched a new publication Special delivery or second class: are we failing special care babies in the UK? which reports on a neonatal service that is overstretched and understaffed. Shortages in s ...

    Publisher: Bliss
    Published Date: 17/04/2007

  • Perinatal Mortality Surveillance Report

    Published in April 2007, this annual report details all perinatal deaths in 2005 and traces their possible cause, making recommendation into how services could be designed to mitigate deaths in future.

    Publisher: Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH)
    Published Date: 03/04/2007

  • Why Mothers Die

    This report was published in 2004 and shows the immense impact of mental health and deprivation on maternal mortality. The next triennial report will be launched in December 2007.

    Publisher: Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH)
    Published Date: 03/09/2004


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