A team of midwives dedicated to helping expectant mums with complex issues have won an award from the Birtish Journal of Midwifery.

Newham University Hospital’s (NUH) Acorn Team are celebrating after taking joint runner up for Team of the Year in the British Journal of Midwifery Practice Awards 2012.

The team, which launched in 2011, has successfully provided midwifery care for over 150 women with complex social needs in Newham, including those who have experienced domestic abuse or substance misuse, refugees and asylum seekers. This has made a real difference by improving care for vulnerable women, especially young mothers, and improving outcomes for mothers and babies in the borough

The team was created in response to the increasing number of women with complex maternity care needs specific to the population of Newham – for example, a high rate of teenage pregnancies. Patients can be referred by health professionals or can self refer.

The Acorn Team’s professional lead is Indie Kaur, Consultant Midwife who initiated the service to improve health outcomes for the area by engaging vulnerable pregnant women earlier in their pregnancies.

She said: “Good midwifery care at such a critical point in the lives of mothers-to-be can have a positive impact on their future. The Acorn Team provides antenatal care, speciality clinics and 28 days of community-based postnatal care to vulnerable women with the most complex needs. The team is particularly proud to have been acknowledged in this way by the British Journal of Midwifery (BJM), which is the leading clinical journal for midwives.