title: Midwifery continuity of carer in an area of high socio-economic disadvantage in London: A retrospective analysis of Albany Midwifery Practice outcomes using routine data (1997-2009).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  in 1997, The Albany Midwifery Practice was established within King's College Hospital NHS Trust in a South East London area of high social disadvantage. The Albany midwives provided continuity of care to around 216 women per year, including those with obstetric, medical or social risk factors. In 2009, the Albany Midwifery Practice was closed in response to concerns about safety, amidst much publicity and controversy. The aim of this evaluation was to examine trends and outcomes for all mothers and babies who received care from the practice from 1997-2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  a retrospective, descriptive analysis of data routinely collected over the 12.5 year period was undertaken including changes over time and outcomes by demographic features.
  
  
  METHODS
  all women booked with the Albany Midwifery Practice were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  of the 2568 women included over the 12.5 year period, more than half (57%) were from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities; one third were single and 11.4% reported being single and unsupported. Almost all women (95.5%) were cared for in labour by either their primary or secondary midwife. There were high rates of spontaneous onset of labour (80.5%), spontaneous vaginal birth (79.8%), homebirth (43.5%), initiation of breastfeeding (91.5%) and breastfeeding at 28 days (74.3% exclusively and 14.8% mixed feeding). Of the 79% of women who had a physiological third stage, 5.9% had a postpartum haemorrhage. The overall rate of caesarean section was 16%. The preterm birth rate was low (5%). Ninety-five per cent of babies had an Apgar score of 8 or greater at 5minutes and 6% were admitted to a neonatal unit for more than two days. There were 15 perinatal deaths (perinatal mortality rate of 5.78 per 1000 births); two were associated with significant congenital abnormalities. There were no intrapartum intrauterine deaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  this analysis has shown that the Albany Midwifery Practice demonstrated positive outcomes for women and babies in socially disadvantaged and BAME groups, including those with complex pregnancies and perceived risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  consideration should be given to making similar models of care available to all women.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia. Electronic address: caroline.homer@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Caroline Se
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Homer
authors.affiliation: Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia. Electronic address: nickyleap@me.com.
authors.forename: Nicky
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leap
authors.affiliation: Independent Researcher. Electronic address: nadine@nadineedwards.org.uk.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom.; Women's Health Academic Centre, St. Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: jane.sandall@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sandall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses'; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Albany Midwifery Practice; BAME outcomes; Caseload midwifery; Home birth; Midwifery continuity of carer; Midwifery practice; Midwives; Normal birth; Social disadvantage