Four of the country’s most influential nursing figures have joined forces to support vital consultation on the future of the profession. Throughout the summer the Nursing and Midwifery Council has been seeking views on the proposed new standards of proficiency for the registered nurse. These standards have been written in collaboration with a range of nurses working in different settings, and at different levels of seniority, from across the UK.
News Archive
An article in the Daily Telegraph reports that all child deaths will be recorded in a new national database as part of NHS England’s child mortality programme. The database is being designed to overhaul the current system of local review panels, and it is hoped that by sharing this information lives can be saved.
The Daily Mail reports that hospitals have been asked to stop using the Essure sterilisation implant – currently offered to 1,500 women a year – after patients complained about pain and complications, including perforation of the womb. Manufacturer Bayer insists the device is safe, and that the suspension is only temporary.
The NMPA project team from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have launched the National Maternity and Perinatal Audit: Organisational Report 2017. It is a snapshot of NHS maternity and neonatal services.
An article was featured in the Daily Telegraph regarding women in labour being turned away from hospitals due to overcrowding.
The latest MBBRACE newsletter is available to read and covers topics such as: The third MBBRACE-UK Perinatal Mortality Surveillance report, The National Perinatal Mortality review tool and Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Confidential Enquiries (ESMiE).
SANDS have updated the progress of the National Bereavement Care Pathway including the announcement of the 11 pilot sites ahead of the launch in October.
Donna Ockenden as Co-Clinical Director of the London Maternity Clinical Network has worked closely with Sands and NHS England on the creation of the Maternity Bereavement Experience Measure (MBEM). The toolkit was launched this summer to health professionals at a very well attended event in London.
The Department of Health released an engaging infographic from the UK Chief Medical Officers providing recommendations of physical activities for pregnant women.
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) in collaboration with the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group have produced the ‘Smokefree Skills, An assessment of maternity workforce training’ report. It seeks to identify the current barriers to full training of the maternity workforce to enable them to deliver NICE guidance on smoking in pregnancy and sets out recommendations for change.
The Department of Health have released a Tobacco Control Plan which builds on the progress made since the previous plan in reducing rates of smoking during pregnancy. An ambitious new goal of reducing smoking amongst pregnant women to 6% by the end of 2022 has been set.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health(RCPCH) have said that every school pupil in the country should be taught about breastfeeding to combat poor knowledge and the stigma about feeding in public. Leading doctors say; ‘Familiarity with breastfeeding’ should be part of personal, health and social education in schools, as Britain has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in Europe.