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Saving Mothers' Lives: - Public Health Agency for Northern Ireland

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Table 16.1<br />

Poor or non attenders <strong>for</strong> maternity care by risk group. Direct and Indirect deaths whose pregnancy was equal to or<br />

exceeded 12 weeks’ gestation: United Kingdom; 2003-05.<br />

Characteristic Women who were poor<br />

or non-attenders at<br />

antenatal care<br />

Overall number of<br />

women<br />

n (%) n (%)<br />

Domestic abuse 13 (81) 16 (100)<br />

Known to Child Protection Services or social services 26 (81) 32 (100)<br />

Substance misuse 21 (78) 27 (100)<br />

Black Caribbean 4 (57) 7 (100)<br />

Single unemployed 19 (56) 34 (100)<br />

Both partners unemployed 14 (47) 30 (100)<br />

Black African 12 (40) 30 (100)<br />

No English 9 (35) 26 (100)<br />

White 31 (17) 183 (100)<br />

At least one partner in employment 9 (5) 165 (100)<br />

Conclusions<br />

Although there are lessons to be learnt <strong>for</strong> midwifery practice, particularly around failure to recognise<br />

serious illness, a failure to act appropriately and lack of communication, there is also evidence of positive<br />

and innovative responses to the recommendations made in the last Report.<br />

Some organisations have developed partnerships with local councils and children centres to develop<br />

targeted services aimed at support vulnerable families as shown in Box 16.2 and Box 16.3.<br />

Box 16.2<br />

Working in partnership<br />

In Liverpool, close partnership working with statutory agencies has led to the development of locally<br />

based comprehensive services <strong>for</strong> women including:<br />

• Four midwifery led centres in deprived parts of the city, offering holistic care including ultrasound<br />

scans, blood tests, parenting support and specialised midwifery support<br />

• The National Society <strong>for</strong> the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has fi nancially supported<br />

the development of two midwifery posts to offer additional support <strong>for</strong> women who suffer from<br />

domestic abuse and women who misuse substances<br />

• The local authority has supported the development of a specialist team of midwives to offer<br />

targeted support through local children’s centres <strong>for</strong> vulnerable women and their families.<br />

For further in<strong>for</strong>mation contact Grace Edwards (Consultant Midwife)<br />

Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust<br />

Telephone: 0151 708 9988<br />

This response to the recommendations of the last triennium report is evident across the UK.<br />

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