More Training For Support Staff To Improve Maternity Services And Ease Pressure On Midwives, Wales

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 27 Feb 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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New training for maternity support workers is to be rolled out across Wales to enable them to take on more tasks currently done by midwives, the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, Rosemary Kennedy, announced today.

Once fully trained, these staff - working as part of a team under the supervision of a midwife - could take on responsibility for providing advice to the mother before and after birth, on a range of subjects including breastfeeding, baby and mother nutrition as well as under take routine tests such as blood pressure and blood tests.

Latest figures for 2007 show that the birth rate is continuing to rise in Wales with 34,414 live births compared to 33,628 in 2006 - a rise of 2.3 per cent.

In Wales, there are 1,977 registered midwives. It's estimate that support workers currently make up around 20 per cent of the total maternity workforce.

From September, the number of midwifery training places is also being increased from 95 in 2008 to 110 in recognition of the increasing birth rate.

The training for support workers will take at most 18 months and will be a mix of taught classes and work-based learning. Staff will work to achieve a National Vocational Qualification in Maternity Support. This will enable them to support midwives in improving the quality of maternity care and work across all maternity settings.

Speaking at the Royal College of Midwives annual conference, Mrs Kennedy said: "Midwives have an invaluable role in caring for mothers and new-born babies, but as a result of the increasing birth rate, have been under greater pressure. Despite that, they continue to provide excellent care.

"We are investing significantly in more staff, training, new units and equipment, to improve care and the working environment for staff.

"I see this new training for maternity support workers as an essential part of our ongoing commitment to improve care. The support workers have a major contribution to make to the care of mothers and babies, but this is often not used to its full potential.

"The new training package will ensure that all maternity workers will have the same training. It will provide clear roles and more career opportunities for staff, which will help aid recruitment and retention.

"The NHS staff survey highlighted the issue of high workloads and time spent on non-midwifery tasks was of major concern to midwives. I believe this initiative will go some way in address those concerns."

Arrangements are ongoing to consider how this training will be evaluated to ensure that midwives, new mums and babies are benefiting from these changes in maternity services.

At the conference, the Chief Nursing Officer will also unveil the new bi-lingual All Wales Hand Held Maternity Record which will be available from 1 April.

The record will improve the quality of care by standardising and enhancing record-keeping. It will mean that should a woman start her pregnancy in one part of Wales, but give birth in another, the information will be easily accessible to health staff to ensure they get the most appropriate care. It will include details on whether it is a normal pregnancy or whether there are any issues of concern.

The record, which will be held by the mother-to-be, will also include information on encouraging Welsh speaking parents, in particular, to pass on the Welsh language by raising their children in English and Welsh.

Mrs Kennedy added: "I am pleased that the development of the new record was done in close consultation with midwives, and I hope this will help reduce paper work for staff with easier access to patient information. This, along with the new training curriculum, will help improve care for mothers and babies and improve the working lives of midwives."

Helen Rogers, Head of the Royal College of Midwives UK Board for Wales, said: "I am delighted that the College has been able to be involved in these two important initiatives. Maternity support workers are key members of the maternity team. We have worked in partnership with the National Leadership and Innovations Agency in Healthcare and Skills for Health who have both supported this development which can only enhance care for mothers and babies in Wales."

Notes:

The Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, Rosemary Kennedy, will be speaking at the Royal College of Midwives annual St David's Day conference on Thursday, 26 February at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 3pm.

Further information on the Twf initiative, which aims to encourage parents to raise their children in both Welsh and English, can be found on its website at: http://www.twfcymru.com/Pages/Root.aspx

NHS Wales