The governments stillbirth strategy to reduce stillbirth by 2020 is being complemented by the distribution of MAMA Academy’s Wellbeing Wallets. Currently, around half of NHS Trusts are using them and the content on the wallet forms part of the Department of Health and Sands ‘Safer Pregnancy’ messaging. The findings of an audit demonstrate the positive impact they are having.
News Archive
The Ministry of Justice held a Consultation on Cremation following Infant Cremation Inquiries early last year. A number of commitments had been made to amend the Cremation (England and Wales) Regulations 2008 and since October 2016 the regulations have provided clarity on a definition of ‘ashes’ and what should be returned to parents following a cremation. A statement has been issued by the Ministry of Justice outlining developments.
NHS England has published guidance on continuity of carer in maternity services. The objective is that all women see the same midwife, or small group of midwives throughout their pregnancy, during the labour and birth and after the baby is born. Currently, it is known that many women are not getting this. The document aims to support local maternity systems implement continuity of carer.
Gill Walton, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “We will be working hard with the Government, maternity services and with our midwife and maternity support worker members to support this process. There is a lot of work to be done but ultimately these will be positive changes that will benefit women, who must always be at the heart of the care we deliver.”
Health Education England has warned that the NHS workforce will need to increase by 190,000 by 2027 in order to meet demand following the release of the first NHS strategy concerning understaffing in 25 years reveals The Guardian. Staff levels are expected to drop due to pressurised jobs, limited pay and a severe shortage of nurses and paramedics. According to the report the NHS is short of 42,000 nurses, midwives and therapists.
NHS England’s latest report on race equality in the health service shows progress has been made but very slowly. The findings demonstrate that an increasing proportion of senior posts are being filled by people from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds but that nurses still face ‘an uphill struggle for equality’. It also reveals that BME staff are less likely to get help with career progression or be appointed when shortlisted for jobs, and are more likely to face formal disciplinary procedures.
The community coat rack organised by the Four Streets Project and Chichester Observer has been in place in the Chichester since mid November. Over 300 coats have been donated and many people in need have benefitted from receiving one of the items. It’s last day for 2017 was Friday 22nd December but the rack will return next year.
NHS medical director, Sir Bruce Keogh has said every NHS hospital should adopt an early warning system to prevent almost 2,000 needless deaths a year, including cases of sepsis All trusts have been asked to introduce consistent checks, amid warnings that the safety of millions of patients is at stake.
The NMC has worked with the Chief Nursing Officers to launch three new animations to help apply the principles behind ‘Enabling professionalism’ in daily life and practice. In each of the three scenarios, a nurse or midwife uses ‘Enabling professionalism’ to reflect on practice and challenge unprofessional behaviour.
Read more and watch the animations: https://www.nmc.org.uk/news/news-and-updates/professionalism-animations-to-support-nurses-and-midwives/
Paying and managing fees for the NMC couldn’t be easier. The NMC will contact those due for revalidation via email and recommend using NMC Online to set up a quarterly or annual direct debit, or payment by credit or debit card which will reduce the risk of late payments. This allows for quick renewals and will avoid registration from lapsing or interruption to being able to practise.
The Tommy’s research team in Manchester has been part of an important international research effort that has confirmed a link between sleep position in the third trimester and stillbirth. The study is the fourth and largest research trial into maternal sleep position and stillbirth. It has shown that if the mother goes to sleep on their back in the third trimester it doubles the risk of stillbirth. The campaign surrounding these findings also includes a video.
Read more and watch the video: https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/sleep-side/sleep-side-research-behind-campaign
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has published the National Maternity and Perinatal Audit (NMPA); its first annual clinical report. The report presents a set of 16 outcomes for births between 1 April 2015 – 31 March 2016 in England, Scotland and Wales. This clinical report is a ground-breaking collaboration between three Royal Colleges and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The audit, the largest of its kind in the world, presents a comprehensive overview of the state of maternity care across Britain. It has been developed using electronic data which midwives, doctors, other healthcare professionals and informatics departments enter as part of their everyday practice.
Proposals for the new nursing education standards and prescribing standards were shared by the NMC in a public consultation earlier this year. Learnings are now being used and working closely with stakeholders to develop the final drafts. These will be presented to the NMC Council in March 2018 and published later in spring. Approved education institutions will need be using the standards by September 2019. Plus, a review of the quality assurance function has been commissioned, which will be considered by the Council in January 2018.