Cambridge Maternity Services Liaison Committee
We care about your care!
Cambridge Maternity Services Liaison Committee
We care about your care!
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Sue Allen-Mills, Jo Brown, Bob Dawson, Wilf Kelsall, Maddie McMahon,Sarah Ockwell-Smith, Anna Richardson, Jo Sharman, Sharon Shipp, Shahida Trayling
Apologies were received from Penny Brett, Rosemary Course, Angela D’Amore, Helen Fairchild, Cheryl France, Birte Harlev-Lam, Sarah Lumley, Nisrin Marcus
Item 9: SA-M and VF had had a meeting with Mel Ripley at the PCT regarding publicity which went very well and matters are all in hand.
SA-M raised four questions in relation to the use of complementary therapies:
-Are there any that are currently being used?
-Should there be any?
-If there should be, what should they be?
-If so, who would provide them?
MM mentioned the possibility of aromatherapy, as there are some hospitals which use this.
SS said that there are 3 trained aromatherapists locally.
SA-M said that people in NCT antenatal classes enquire about the use of complementary therapies, so there is interest.
ST said that people are told they can bring in their own remedies, but that the Rosie can take no responsibility for their use. A hospital in Birmingham has had training in the use of aromatherapy and the feedback has been positive.
SO-S presented some research data. She also said that Harlow hospital has oils available, which are offered to women.
ST said that she and PB were considering the use of aromatherapy in the new build. It was said that there is some evidence that the use of complementary therapies reduces costs. There is also evidence of its effectiveness.
There were some queries regarding issues such as women self-prescribing lavender oil (for example). These issues can be looked into before the new build is up and running. Other units would be happy to share information about how things have worked for them. It was mentioned that there may be concerns from pregnant midwives in some cases, but as risk assessments are carried out for pregnant staff anyway, this would be considered.
SO-S is finding increased interest being shown in hypnobirthing, and running workshops on it for Rosie staff. She reported that more midwives are showing interest, although she feels there are a few myths surrounding it which may need to be dispelled. She had printed information for reference.
There is a website about reflexology which has information:
www.aor.org.uk.
WK expressed concerns about any therapists having CRB checks, but it was said that any attending would be treated as a birth companion to the woman involved.
ST will talk to PB about the possibility of setting up a working party. The use of complementary therapies is encouraged on the MLBU, but possibly this could be done on DU too.
ACTION: ST
SO-S mentioned that she has been wanting to break into Sure Start (now Children’s Centres) areas with her work but she has previously found this difficult. She will discuss this with JS.
ACTION: SO-S and JS
Feedback was presented from a survey of experiences of Lady Mary ward covering the period Oct 07-Oct 08. The respondents were contacted through the NCT, La Leche League and Doula UK, and at Children’s Centre new parents’ groups.
MM was pleased with the number of positive comments, but noticed that there were recurring themes among the negative.
SA-M said that that some of the negative comments were along the same lines as those made in the previous survey (Oct 06-Oct 07).
MM said that no woman that she had been in contact with had seen one of the laminated sheets beside their bed. SS said that she could confirm that they had certainly been there only the previous day. It was suggested that midwives be directed to highlight the sheet to women, so that it is brought to their attention.
Some changes have been made, i.e. the new electric beds being introduced are bigger, meaning the old style lockers have been replaced by smaller ones, so there is more space around the beds.
ST will pass all these issues onto Nicola Fagin.
ACTION: ST
BD pointed out that some comments are contradictory to others, which causes some confusion as to what action to take, and that in the format presented, it was unclear how many points each respondent has raised. SA-M said that within each sub-section, each point was made by a different person, except where otherwise indicated.
SA-M will pass the verbatim comments on to ST.
ACTION: SA-M
WK explained that there has been an increase in positive feedback following the implementation of monthly reviews in Children’s Services, so suggested it could be worth implementing into Maternity Services, which was unanimously supported by the meeting.
MM expressed concern about feedback she had received about breastfeeding support on Sara Ward, and the use of tube and formula feeding. WK will look into this. He reported that the organisation of Sara Ward is going to change, so that there will be fewer transitional care beds and more special care ones.
ACTION – WK
MM also mentioned that there seem to be occasions where there has been disagreement between care providers about the care of a baby. Most breastfeeding support is Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm, so ‘out of hours’ support is confined to one (busy) midwife.
Another issue raised in the feedback was about the availability of interpreters. SS commented that outside of the ‘common’ languages, they are hard to obtain out of hours. Discussions were made as to how this could be helped, with suggestions including picture cards for communication.
All positive comments about named individuals that were made in the survey will be recorded and passed onto the people concerned.
It is recognised that the Rosie website is being revised, but the information currently available is limited and it is hard to navigate, making it not very useful for parents. It was agreed that the Rosie should be asked what development of the site is intended, and that suggestions from users for what’s included should be passed on.
JB suggested a ‘walk around’ 360deg virtual Rosie.
MM suggested including a FAQ section.
WK suggested contacting Ruth Murphy (head of communications).
ACTION: SA-M to contact Ruth Murphy
During the September 08 application of the audit tool, it was decided that we currently fit the criteria for being at Level 3 (‘Unit statistics and identifiable trends used to influence and direct audits’). Level 4 (‘External reports (e.g. CESDI, NICE, HCC) presented to the MSLC from time to time and discussed’) is easily achievable.
[This item was tabled in substitution for PB’s planned presentation on caesarean section rates, because PB was unable to attend. The presentation will now be given at a future meeting.
BD mentioned that a target caesarean rate of 20% has been proposed.]
At a previous discussion of one-to-one care in labour, PB had raised the question of using doulas, but BH-L had said that there was no funding available for this. There are now quite a few doulas working in the Cambridge area, some of whom have expressed an interest in providing labour (and/or postnatal) support on a voluntary basis.
MM referred to the Doula UK code of conduct and highlighted the fact that doulas do not give any medical input, their role is purely supportive. There is an increased interest among parents in having the support of a doula. There is a hardship fund within Doula UK that is available for people who may not be otherwise able to afford the full expense (satisfied clients contribute to this).
BD suggested that newly qualified midwives receive training on a doula’s role, so that they understand a doula’s place, and are not uncomfortable with them.
ACTION: MM to arrange a meeting with BH-L (and possibly SO-S) to facilitate building bridges between providers and doulas
ST gave an update on the Perinatal Centre that is to be built adjacent to the Rosie at a cost of c.£27.7 million. The services which will be affected by it will be the Special Care unit and NICU. There will be a new Fetal Medicine assessment unit in it, and a new MLBU, which will have 10 rooms, all with a birthing pool. The design team started on March 6th. ST said that other units were being looked at, to get some idea of good, as well as not so good, ideas. There has been an expansion of information-giving for staff, and there is to be a drop in session on Friday 13th March. The project is planned to be completed two years from now.
SS reported that there had been a 3rd and 4th degree tear roadshow held the previous week which had been very successful. There had also been a review and discussion of risk factors, looking at both predicted and actual risks within the DU.
It was proposed that the AGM should be held in the first half of October, with the 7th or the 14th being possible dates. It was agreed that the Fields Early Years Centre (where we have held the AGM the past two years), would be a good venue.
ACTION – BD to liaise with Gill October re. dates
BD mentioned the Family Nurse Partnership in Cambridgeshire is starting a project in January 2010 for 100 teenage parents, which is based on a similar project carried out in America. It is hoped to promote good practice for mothers and their children, as well as positive development.
SA-M pointed out that teenage pregnancy is an item on the agenda for the next meeting and suggested inviting a couple of teenage mothers along for their input.
WK made us aware of a Parent Support Group for parents of pre-term babies, which will run on the back of Premrose. There will be monthly meetings, some of these have included baby massage classes, and Saturday sessions aimed at fathers. WK informed that Sarah Harris is the discharge co-ordinator, and she offers formal education for community workers.
WK also reported on some comparative work he has been involved in on breastfeeding rates after caesarean sections at the Rosie, another UK hospital and hospitals in Romania. SA-M suggested that he provide fuller details of this at the July meeting, when PB is scheduled to do a presentation on VBACs and could also be asked to give her deferred presentation on caesarean rates, so that the meeting would be devoted to a discussion of caesarean issues.
Tuesday 21st April, 12.00 pm– 2.00 pm
Seminar Room 5, Rosie Maternity Hospital
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