Due to #Coronavirus #COVID19 and this additional pressures this has placed on NHS staff, we have now closed this survey (earlier than planned). Thank you to all of those who responded. We hope to publish results as soon as we can.
There is a united level of concern for the health and wellbeing of midwives in the United Kingdom (UK), where recent research has shown that many experience work-related stress and burnout. Such experiences may lead to midwives being at particular risk of substance use/misuse. In fact, in a recent review of fitness to practise (FtP) cases, a number of those put before the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) related to alcohol (n=208) and drug misuse (n=131).
Such episodes of addiction, alcohol and drug use are classed as individual health concerns. Yet, whilst they can leave a variety of healthcare professionals depleted, and both workplace safety and the safety of care compromised, relevant literature has thus far been largely dominated by the experiences and care of physicians. Consequently, researchers from Coventry University are now conducting the first nationwide study of registered midwives in relation to this issue.
Project Team:
The aims of this study are:
- To investigate substance use among midwives registered in the UK
- To explore the perceptions of midwives registered in the UK in relation to midwifery impairment
- To explore perceptions of midwives registered in the UK in relation to organisational support
- To identify incidents of midwifery impairment
- To explore the help seeking behaviours of midwives registered in the UK with problematic substance use (PSU)
- To identify health risks among midwives registered in the UK with PSU
We are very grateful to the Royal College of Midwives for supporting recruitment to this study.
For further information, or if you have any queries, please contact me, the lead researcher, Dr Sally Pezaro (sally.pezaro@coventry.ac.uk).
Twitter handle: @SallyPezaro
We are also very grateful to UNISON for sharing this survey with their members
@unisontweets
If you would like to follow the progress of work going forward..
Follow me via @SallyPezaro; The Academic Midwife; This blog
Until next time…Look after yourselves and each other 💚💙💜❤
Dr Sally Pezaro 