title: A 10-year history of perinatal care at the Brockington Mother and Baby Unit Stafford.
abstract: Perinatal mother and baby units are an essential service for women suffering from perinatal mental illness by allowing the baby to stay with the mother whilst receiving inpatient mental health care. Such units enable the mother to develop a relationship with her baby in a safe and supportive environment whilst caring for her mental health needs and allow her to gain confidence in her role as a mother. This article presents the development of the Brockington Mother and Baby unit and its progressive advancement towards an exemplary service for women suffering from perinatal mental illness. The Brockington Mother and Baby unit (MBU) at South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare Foundation Trust (SSSFT) is celebrating its 10th anniversary and is one of six MBUs accredited as excellent by the Royal College of Psychiatry (RCPsych). The unit is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Quality Care Network and thereby adheres to their national standard of care. This article describes the journey from a single lone worker in perinatal mental health to an exemplary service caring for women with perinatal mental illness during the first 12 months following the birth of their child.
authors.affiliation: South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, St George's Hospital, Corporation Street, Stafford, ST16 3RG, UK. debra.shaw@sssft.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Debra J
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1019-0736
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, St George's Hospital, Corporation Street, Stafford, ST16 3RG, UK.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hofberg
authors.affiliation: South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, St George's Hospital, Corporation Street, Stafford, ST16 3RG, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, St George's Hospital, Corporation Street, Stafford, ST16 3RG, UK.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fanneran
authors.affiliation: South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, St George's Hospital, Corporation Street, Stafford, ST16 3RG, UK.|Research Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: Athula
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sumathipala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Mental health; Mother and baby unit; Perinatal; Service development