NU7205 Advancing Midwifery Practice (10 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this module the student should be able to:

• Discuss the approaches and strategies that keep birth normal;
  
• Critically examine the approaches that can contribute to ‘making things right when things go wrong’;
  
• Critically analyse local services, place them in a national and international context;
  
• Demonstrate engagement with senior midwifery management and collaboration with colleagues locally.
  
• Identify ONE aspect of midwifery practice amenable to immediate improvement and devise a
  strategy and implementation plan to achieve this change;
  
• Advance midwifery by contributing to the discussions and debate on midwifery practice, share
  examples of good practice that can be modeled and implemented by others;
  
• Discuss ways of enhancing consumer/user engagement with maternal and midwifery services locally.
  

Module Learning Aims & Rationale

This new and innovative module is designed to enable students to achieve immediate and positive
change in midwifery practice and pave the way for incremental change in advancing midwifery practice.
The chosen aspect of change will be student-led but agreed following a review of an aspect of midwifery
practice locally. Consultation with senior midwifery management to ensure the targeted change meets
with the organisation’s strategic objectives and will be supported is essential. Collaboration with
midwifery colleagues (and others as required) locally is a prerequisite to choosing the initial aspect of
change.

The module content has been informed by recent publications by the Health Services Executive on the
future of maternity services in Ireland and by other pertinent reports and data on clinical outcomes in the
maternity services in Ireland.

The aim of the module is to equip students with the knowledge to influence and achieve change in
midwifery practice. The module will be delivered over one intensive week of study.

Recommended Reading List

Indicative Resources

• Begley C., Devane D. & Clarke M. (2009) An Evaluation of Midwifery-led Care in the Health Service
  Executive North Eastern Area: The report of the MidU Study. Unpublished report. Health Service
  Executive, Dublin. www.hse.ie/eng/services/Publications/services/Hospitals/midwifery%20north%20east.pdf
  
• Begley C et al. Comparison of midwife-led and consultant-led care of healthy women at low risk of
  childbirth complications in the Republic of Ireland: a randomised trial. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2393/11/85
  
• The Institute of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (2006) Report from Institute Subgroup: Future of
  Maternity & Gynaecology Services in Ireland 2006 – 2016.
  
• www.rcpi.ie/Faculties/Institute%20of%20Obstetricians%20and%20Gynaecologists%20Down/Maternity
  %20%20Gynaecology%20Services%20in%20Ireland%202006-2016.pdf
  
• Lewis G. (2007) The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH). Saving Mothers’
  Lives: Reviewing Maternal Deaths to make Motherhood Safer - 2003-2005. The Seventh Report on
  Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom. CEMACH, London.
  
• http://www.cemach.org.uk/getattachment/26dae364-1fc9-4a29-a6cb-afb3f251f8f7/Saving-Mothers
  %E2%80%99-Lives-2003-2005-(Full-report).aspx
  
• Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) (2010) Maternal Obesity in the UK: Findings from a National Project. CMACE, London.
  
• Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) (2011) Saving mothers’ lives: reviewing maternal
  deaths to make motherhood safer: 2006-2008. The eighth report on confidential enquiries into maternal
  death in the United Kingdom. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 118 (Suppl. 1), 1-203
  
• Government of Ireland (2006) The Lourdes Hospital Inquiry: An Inquiry into Peripartum Hysterectomy at
  Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda: Report of Judge Maureen Harding Clark S.C.
  www.stateclaims.ie/ClinicalIndemnityScheme/publications/lourdes.pdf
  
• Health Information and Quality Authority (2013) Investigation into the safety, quality and standards of
  services provided by the Health Service Executive to patients, including pregnant women, at risk of
  clinical deterioration, including those provided in University Hospital Galway, and as reflected in the
  care and treatment provided to Savita Halappanavar. Available at: http://www.hiqa.ie/press-release
  /2013-10-09-patient-safety-investigation-report-published-health-information-and-qualit
  
• Holohan T (2014) HSE Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise Perinatal Deaths (2006-date). Report to the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly TD.
  http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/portlaoise_perinatal_deaths.pdf
  
• KPMG (2008) Independent Review of Maternity and Gynaecology Services in the Greater Dublin
  Area www.hse.ie/eng/Publications/services/Hospitals/Independent_Review_of_Maternit and_Gynaecology_Services_in_the_greater_Dublin_area_.pdf
  
• Maternal Death Ireland (MDE) (2015) Confidential Maternal Death Enquiry in Ireland. Report for 2009 –
  2012. http://www.ucc.ie/en/media/academic/obstetricsandgynaecology/documents/ConfidentialMaternalDeathEnquiryReport2009-12.pdf
  
• National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) (2015) Severe maternal morbidity in Ireland. Annual
  Report 2012 and 2013. http://www.ucc.ie/en/media/research/nationalperinatalepidemiologycentre/annualreports/SMMReport20122013.pdf

Websites

• Hospital In-Patient Enquiry Scheme (HIPE) www.esri.ie/health_information/hipe/
  
• National Perinatal Reporting System (NPRS) www.esri.ie/health_information/nprs/
  
• State Claims Agency (SCA) www.stateclaims.ie/home.html and Clinical Indemnity Scheme
  
• (CIS) www.stateclaims.ie/ClinicalIndemnityScheme/introduction.html
  
• The Cochrane Library www.thecochranelibrary.com/view/0/index.html
  
  

*Other readings will be provided by individual lecturers.