MIDIRS Essence > August 2010 > MIDIRS

Working in collaboration not in competition

Originally posted on Aug 2010

I was very grateful to Sheena Byrom, Consultant Midwife at University of Central Lancashire, for sending an article to me for the June issue of the Digest which demonstrated how a team of health carers had all worked together to support a mother in the second stage of labour (Byrom et al 2010).

The article is written in the form of a reflective record from the perspective of the woman, the student midwife originally assigned her care, the midwife overseeing the student, the consultant obstetrician and the registrar who acted under instruction from the consultant obstetrician, and finally the supervisor of midwives.

The result was the successful birth of a healthy baby boy which utilised the skills of all involved, not necessarily within the constraints of convention but within an environment of facilitation. This resulted in pleasure and satisfaction for all involved as can be appreciated when reading their individual accounts. This is a wonderful example of the beneficial aspects of collaboration, and demonstrates respect for and between all the individuals involved.

Within the current climate of uncertain employment, financial restraint and a potential shortfall in personnel investment, it is perhaps tempting to slide into a habitual mode of discontent and disagreement, where it takes more effort to look out to try to make things happen rather than them always happening to you.

I would suggest this article could be used as a framework for discussion where there is friction between professional groups, and as an aid to reflection about what might contribute to this, especially where this is a regular, rather than a one-off occurrence.

Respect within professional groups can only arise where there is recognition of skill and responsibility and where some form of regulation is in place to enforce this.

With regard to midwifery practice, this is of course regulated by the NMC and administered within the clinical environment through midwifery supervision under the auspices of local supervisors of midwives. However, at the heart of working relations is the real desire to care and support; where this is a joint ambition, as Sheena and her colleagues demonstrate, there are no limits to what might be achieved.

References

• Byrom S, Fardella L, Sandford J et al (2010) Collaborating to push boundaries to promote positive birth :an inspirational reflection MIDIRS Midwifery Digest 20(2): 199-204
  
  
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (2004). Midwives Rules and Standards London: NMC
  
  
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (2007). The Code: standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. London: NMC.

Sally Marchant | Editor, MIDIRS Midwifery Digest | MIDIRS | Photo Credit: Sophie Rétif

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