Aspects of midwifery care 2: 'enhanced role' and social aspects

This is the second in a series of six papers presenting key findings from a national study that was undertaken to investigate the role and responsibilities of midwives and to identify and address continuing educational need. The background to the study and the titles of other papers in the series were outlined in the first paper. This paper focuses on two key aspects of the midwife’s role: ‘enhanced role’ activities and social and emotional care. The implications of the findings for practice and education are discussed.

Aspects of midwifery care 3: organisation of midwifery care

This is the third in a series of six papers presenting key findings from a national study that was undertaken to investigate the role and responsibilities of midwives and to identify continuing educational need. The background to the study and the titles of the other papers in the series have been outlined in the first paper. Issues related to the way midwifery care is organized nationally are discussed in this paper. Midwives and supervisors indicated a strong commitment to providing woman-centred care in a caring and sensitive manner, often in the face of enormous structural and organizational change. This paper addresses key issues that arose for midwives and supervisors when planning and providing an optimum quality service.

Aspects of care 4: views of professionals and mothers

This is the fourth in a series of six papers presenting key findings from a national study that was undertaken to investigate the role and responsibilities of midwives and to identify continuing educational need. The background to the study and the titles of the other papers in the series have been outlined in the first paper. This paper focuses on midwives’, supervisors’, doctors’ and mothers’ views regarding quality of care issues, with particular emphasis on what makes a ‘good’ midwife.

Aspects of care 5: the continuing educational needs of midwives

This is the fifth in a series of six papers presenting key findings from a national study that was undertaken to investigate the role and responsibilities of midwives and to identify continuing educational need. The background to the study and the titles of the other papers in the series have been outlined in the first paper. This paper focuses on the methods used to identify the continuing educational needs of midwives, and provides an overview of the findings related to midwives' perceived confidence/competence to practice and their continuing educational needs.

Aspects of care 6: continuing educational needs of midwives 2

This is the last in a series of six papers presenting key findings from a national study that was undertaken to investigate the role and responsibilities of midwives in England and to identify and address continuing educational needs. The background to the study and the titles of other papers in the series have been outlined in the first paper. The first five papers have provided an overview of the main research findings that have been used to determine the continuing educational needs of midwives. This paper provides a more detailed picture of the issues that were identified in relation to educational need, and an overview of the way in which an educational package was developed on the basis of the research findings for use by midwives nationally.