Search Results

British maternity wards in crisis

Some very bleak reading, particularly in light of the recent CMACE report, Saving Mothers' Lives 2006-2008 which tells that sepsis now outranks even pre-eclampsia and eclampsia as the leading direct cause of maternal death. Deaths due to sepsis have risen from 18 in 2003-05 to 26 in 2006-08* - …

Maternal deaths are an outrage

"In the 21st century, no woman should have to give her life to give life."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ( Reuters 19 May)

"We must find a way to get maternal mortality recognized as a key indicator of a functioning health system. Let us work together to make sure maternal mortality is a …

MEOWS: Recommended

I spend a lot of time campaigning for the national use of Modified Obstetric Early Warning System (MEOWS) chart, and indeed I was in Oxford yesterday talking to some midwifery students about their use, and the difference they would almost certainly have made to Jessica.

Not everybody always …

'Midwife numbers to fall short'

With a weariness I read today yet another story about midwifery staffing levels falling short of the number required  for the government to meet it's own declared standard of care.

BBC: Midwife numbers 'to fall short'

I've said it before, and I expect I'll say it again; please look after …

Topic for discussion

Maternal death is too uncomfortable a topic for discussion.

Please discuss in the comments.

Don't miss the bear

… got the correct answer, and then a gasp!

I had a letter today, from CEMACH, with some of the comments made by the (mainly midwife) delegates at the South East Regional CEMACH conference in Basingstoke Jan 2009, in their evaluation forms. To underline the purpose of Jessica's Trust, the campaign and our petition, I thought I'd share a few:

Jessica's story highlighted the need for MEOWS …

The reality of maternal mortality: a father's perspective

This is the text of the speech I gave to The Sixth National Conference on Current Issues in Midwifery organised by the British Journal of Midwifery yesterday. I have reproduced it here by popular request. I am not going to include the photographs of my family that I refer to, nor the medical …

So says the nurse

… has written about it more fully in her post, Friday's Child by Ben Palmer. I won't comment - it speaks for itself.

In the grip

I was sent an early copy of a new book, Touching Distance , last week. I was gripped by it from start to finish and it consumed most of my weekend.

I have also been alerted to a post by dovegreyreader who has also spotted the link between Touching Distance and Friday's Child .

Touching …

Thank you

Since the launch of Friday's Child and last weekend's coverage I have been flooded with comments, emails, letters and calls. It is so moving and rewarding to receive them all, and I may be slow but I am getting up to date with replying.

Trying to keep up makes me think that I am not giving a full and warranted response in each and every case, so I am sorry.  I wouldn't want anybody …