‘RCM comments on the Albany Midwifery Practice continuity of care model’

By RCM on 07 March 2017 Midwifery Continuity of Carer - MCOC Midwives Women Postnatal Care Antenatal / Prenatal Maternity Services

The Albany Midwifery Practice has been demonstrated by independent researchers to have had outstanding outcomes for mothers and babies.

The Albany Midwifery Practice was a ground-breaking NHS continuity of care model that went through a number of rigorous evaluations.

For 12 and a half years between 1997 and 2009 the Practice operated in Peckham, an area of high social deprivation in South London. The seven Albany midwives looked after all women referred to them, whether or not they had straight forward or complex pregnancies and nearly all were looked after by the same one or two midwives during pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatally.

Commenting on analysis of the data, Cathy Warwick Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said; The Albany model was based on providing continuity of care for all women including those most vulnerable. This rigorous analysis of nine years of data supports the policy direction and gives further impetus to introducing some models such as this one as a priority.

“The Better Births National Maternity Review for England and the more recently published review of maternity services in Scotland Best Start, both recommend that women should be able to access models of maternity based on continuity of carer throughout the antenatal, labour and post natal period. Such models improve quality and safety, whilst also increasing women’s satisfaction and confidence of their care.”

Read full report here: Midwifery continuity of carer in an area of high socio-economic disadvantage in London: a retrospective analysis of Albany Midwifery Practice outcomes using routine data (1997–2009): http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266613817301511

To contact the RCM Press Office call 020 7312 3456 or email pressofficer@rcm.org.uk.

The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.