Midwifery continuity of care (CoC) is transforming maternity services, offering significant benefits to women, their babies, and families. Recognizing its profound impact on both physical and emotional wellbeing, NHS England has released comprehensive guidance to support the full-scale implementation of CoC across all maternity services. To aid in this crucial transition, the Midwifery Continuity of Care Model Toolkit has been developed as an essential resource.
This toolkit is specifically designed to assist maternity services and Local Maternity Systems in strategically planning for and implementing continuity of carer models. A key component is its workforce modeling capability, which empowers services to accurately plan midwifery staffing levels and simulate workload under diverse local conditions. This ensures that the implementation of CoC is both effective and sustainable.
To further support practical application, the Maternity and Midwifery Forum has compiled a series of insightful presentations from their Maternity and Midwifery Hour. These videos showcase real-world examples of CoC implementation across various workforces, highlighting the tangible benefits experienced by teams and the women they serve. These resources offer invaluable peer-to-peer learning and practical strategies for successful adoption of the CoC model.
The move towards continuity of carer represents a significant stride in the maternity transformation agenda. Beyond improved outcomes for mothers and babies, CoC models have been shown to enhance job satisfaction and autonomy for midwives, fostering a more rewarding and effective working environment. Even student midwives benefit, gaining experience in contemporary midwifery practice that prepares them for the future of maternity care.
Explore the resources provided by NHS England and the Maternity and Midwifery Forum to effectively utilize the Midwifery Continuity of Care Model Toolkit and drive positive change in your maternity services. Embrace the future of maternity care and unlock the full potential of continuity of carer.
Get the toolkit here: Continuity of Carer Workforce Modelling Tool
Read the full guidance: Delivering Midwifery Continuity of Carer at full scale
Watch real-life implementation examples: Maternity and Midwifery Forum YouTube Channel
