Continuity of Carer -
What is continuity of carer?
1. Consistency in midwife or clinical team providing hands on care during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period.
2. Enables the Co-ordination of a woman’s care, as a named individual is responsible for ensuring the needs of a woman and her baby are met in the right time and place.
3. Enables the relationship between woman and the person caring for her to develop over time.
The evidence for Midwife led Continuity models of care
Infographic showing the case for midwife led continuity of care models is both safer and more personal with women attended at birth by a known midwife reporting higher levels of satisfaction and safer outcomes for mothers and babies.
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Further information on evidence can be found at Cochrane Library web site.
Read the blog by Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Head Midwifery NHS England:
The Importance of continuity of carer models
NHS England: Implementing Better Births: Continuity of Carer
This document provides practical guidance to Local Maternity Systems on how to improve their services so that women experience continuity in the clinicians providing their maternity care.
National policy aim is that by March 2019, 20% of women booking will receive continuity of the person caring for them during pregnancy, birth and postnatally.
The new NHS Long Term Plan for England was published January 7th, 2019. It contains a couple of pages focussed specifically on maternity (pp46-49). You can read what it has to say on Continuity of Carer on pp 48, 3.13.
Check out our blog about it Long Term Plan Update,
Local Implementation of Continuity of Care Models
In North Cumbria small place-based midwifery teams will be developed to enhance continuity of carer within a network of maternity hubs. The goal will be to increase the number of women who experience continuity of carer year on year
Here are the local workshop notes on Continuity of Carer held in August. The first Continuity of Carer team will be launched in Carlisle very soon.
North Cumbria and North East Update
25 February 2020, Ian Railton describes the unique approach being taken across the North East and North Cumbria to co-design with women and frontline staff a way of enabling 'continuity of carer' - one that not only delivers the best outcomes for women but also creates a fulfilling and balanced life for staff.
The Ivy Team - Hull
The Ivy Team of community midwives at Hull University Teaching Hospitals are delivering personal and safe care to the women they see. They are beginning to implement continuity of carer which sees women given more personalised care and lets the midwives work in self-governing, autonomous teams.
Continuity of Carer in Worcestershire
Video from The Hertfordshire and Worcestershire Local Maternity System (LMS).