October 23, 2024
An independent review led by Professor Mary Renfrew calls for systemic, evidence-based change to improve maternity services in Northern Ireland. She writes that the review "has found both serious weaknesses and real strengths in the current provision of midwifery and wider interdisciplinary care for mothers and their babies." The wide-ranging document, which was commissioned by the Department of Health, is "grounded in the experiences of women and families, and the input of midwives and the interdisciplinary team, managers, and senior decision-makers from across Northern Ireland." It includes a number of recommendations with operational considerations and next steps to ensure a coordinated and consistent response to support the "development of structures and processes, a significant change in culture, and a radical shift in the relationship with women."
The review also identifies eight requirements for midwifery units and home birth services in Northern Ireland. Requirement 1 focuses on the 'Development and implementation of consistent, evidence informed and context-specific standards, policies, guidelines, with commitment to evaluation and ongoing improvement' and recommends using the MUSA self-assessment tool to monitor and review services. The regional implementation of MUSA in NHS England - North East and Yorkshire was cited as an example of positive service development in support of this recommendation, and the impact and lesson learned from the project are outlined.
One of the most important recommendations for midwifery-led care is the very first, which calls for "[a] regional plan should be developed to ensure that women across NI have access to safe, quality midwifery care in midwifery units and for home births, and that midwives are supported to provide this care." The accompanying operational considerations and next steps includes the recommendation of using the MUSA self-assessment tool to support planning, monitoring and review of midwifery hub, to assess and standardise policy and practice and to identify areas for improvement.
You can read and download the full report here - Enabling Safe Quality Midwifery Services and Care in Northern Ireland.