Description:
In England 2004, 1/5th of babies were born into families experiencing social exclusion. The socioeconomic gradient is a strong predictor of poorest outcomes where deprivation increases the likelihood of poorer outcomes in health, education and economic attainment and life expectancy. The outcomes of maternal mortality and infant mortality rates, incidence of low birth weight babies and complexity in supporting parenting and safeguarding children demonstrate this starkly. Overall, some rates are falling but it is disturbing that the gap is widening for the socially excluded. Current mainstream maternity provision is contributing to this unacceptable situation.
This presentation considers maternity service development to improve these outcomes in the context of government policy, evidenced interventions, characteristics of successful service models, processes of care, systems redesign, and finally it gives an example of an assertive outreach service for pregnant and parenting drug users in South East London.
The key message is to redesign commissioning of maternity services so that they meet the needs of local populations and can identify and provide effective service provision for women experiencing social exclusion and complexity and that this is seen as equitable to the services that are available for women and their babies whose problems are more of a clinical nature.
Profile
Jill has a successful track record in change management and is professionally qualified in midwifery and nursing. She has a BSc and MSc in social sciences and is an accredited NHS Facilitator. Jill’s expertise in ‘normal midwifery’ and quality improvement strategies led to membership of several professional national committees. The most recent was as a member of the Development Group for the NICE caesarean section guideline, which was published in April 2004. Her recent clinical work has focused on developing effective service provision for pregnant women and families experiencing marked social exclusion. Powerful lessons were learnt whilst developing, with an Addictions Nurse colleague, an assertive outreach model service for pregnant women and families with problem drug use. She is currently on a year’s secondment at the Department of Health.
Author: Jill Demilew | MIDIRS
Contact: vicky@midirs.org | Links: Click here to watch the entire video
Reaching out to pregnant women and new mothers with particular social needs