Midwives at Newham Hospital win prestigious award

Midwives at Newham Hospital have won an award for an innovative project that transforms the care women received during their pregnancy.

The trial scheme, set up six months ago, provides personalised care for local woman and allows them to have their babies at home, at Newham Birth Centre and in the Barking Birth Centre, or in Newham Hospital.

Each woman, whether with a low or high risk pregnancy, would be assigned a named midwife who would work alongside obstetricians and local GP practices.

To ensure continuity of care throughout her pregnancy she would be guaranteed to see no more than three different midwives during her journey.

The scheme was awarded the Royal College of Midwives prestigious Euro King Better Births award for transforming maternity services together.

Cathy Falvey-Browne, consultant midwife at Newham Hospital, said: “I am delighted and extremely proud that our team’s work to improve care for local women in Newham has been recognised.

“As part of the transforming services together team our aim is to strive for excellent, safe maternity care, to create more choice for women regarding place of birth and improve continuity of care throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond.”

The project was devised as a direct response to the needs of women in Newham.