Multiple Birth Continuity of Carer Team

Quality Improvement Poster Download

Background & Problem

The national better births initiative states that all women should have continuity of carer. For those women who are having a multiple pregnancy the care is generally given by both the community team and hospital team, which generally reduces continuity.

Aim

We wanted to improve the percentage of women with multiple pregnancy experiencing continuity of care. We wanted to improve satisfaction for both women and the midwives caring for them. It was planned that at least 90% of women who had multiple pregnancy would be on the continuity pathway by March 2019

Method

Data was collected on numbers of multiple births, numbers of midwives required to undertake the team model and rostering requirements.

A staff consultation exercise was undertaken explaining the pathway and asking for expressions of interest to be part of team.

Amendment made to focus, from multiple births to elective caesareans, was made when no staff felt they wanted to be a part of this model

Data collected on numbers of Elective caesareans, pathway and roster requirements

Expressions of interest on new pathway invited.

Results

We found that no members of midwifery staff wanted to be part of this pathway, and we could not get a team together to take this forward.

Implications

We changed focus midway through the project, looking at whether we could have a continuity model for women having caesarean section, however again staff were reluctant to be part of this specific a team. We realise that we need to engage with the hospital based staff to find a model of continuity which they feel will be of benefit, and which therefore they will want to be part of.