Case summary A new midwifery project, known as “Caseload midwifery”, is to be tested in Drammen. The model involves a group of midwives caring for a group of women and their families throughout pregnancy, birth and maternity. Health and care minister Ingvild Kjerkol believes it represents new thinking and innovation in the field. The aim of the project is to offer pregnant women coherent pregnancy, birth and maternity care, with a focus on the personal relationship and continuity between the midwife and the pregnant woman. The project starts in 2024 and will last for two years. The aim is that, in the long term, there may be a new way of organizing maternity services in Norway. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I would openly think that for my part it would be positive. That’s what new mother of two, Linn White, says. She comments on the care model known as “Caseload midwifery”, which will now be tested in Drammen. The model is widespread in several countries, including England, Denmark, Australia and Sweden, and involves a group of midwives caring for a group of women and their families throughout pregnancy, birth and maternity. Marte Berger-Nortvedt is section manager at the maternity ward at Drammen hospital and works with the project. Photo: Hans-Kristian Rangnes / news – It is this continuity in the relationship between midwife, mother and partner that gives the good results we know this care model gives, says Marte Berger-Nortvedt, section manager at the maternity ward at Drammen hospital. She says that the model gives good results in terms of patient safety for both mother and child, that those giving birth feel safe and that midwives like to work this way. – It will be a close relationship. It is a person in whom you must have confidence. There is someone who will accompany you in the most vulnerable part of life. And you have a lot of questions, so you are somewhat dependent on someone with whom you have some chemistry, says White. She explains that she has not had a problem with the current model, but that with her second birth she noticed that there was worse staffing than before. This means that it takes longer to get hold of a midwife and health nurse for follow-up. – So if it can solve that part, it would be very nice. Midwives are very positive In Drammen, a group of four midwives will be responsible for 150 women. The aim is to offer pregnant women coherent pregnancy, birth and maternity care. The focus is on the personal relationship and continuity between the midwife and the pregnant woman. Main goal for the project “My midwife” To offer pregnant women a continuous pregnancy, birth and maternity care Have an attractive maternity service for women Retain and recruit midwives to Drammen hospital Increased cooperation between specialist and primary healthcare Source: InnoMed.no – I am very positive about it. It will be exciting, says midwife in Drammen, Jeanette Sloth Hybjerg. Linn White with her son Liam on her arm, together with midwife in Drammen, Jeanette Sloth Hybjerg. Photo: Caroline Utti / news She believes the offer will create extra security for the mothers-to-be. – You will get to know the team and they will get to know you, your situation and any challenges you have with worries, hopes or thoughts, says Sloth Hybjerg. She emphasizes that a continuity of service is experienced as “super-satisfying” as a midwife, but hopefully also for the pregnant women. – The advantage of the project is that you get the chance to follow up, explains Sloth Hybjerg. The Minister of Health is cheering for the project – It sounds very exciting. That is the immediate reaction of the Minister of Health and Care, Ingvild Kjerkol. She says that midwives have long wished to have a wholesome service, where the same midwives accompany the women throughout pregnancy, in the delivery room and during follow-up. – So this type of new thinking and innovation is what we really encourage, says Kjerkol. Minister of Health and Care Ingvild Kjerkol applauds the trial project in Drammen. Photo: Caroline Utti / news – If the midwives can have the opportunity to work in both places, it will improve the profession and give a more even duty load on each individual midwife. There are many good arguments for trying it out here, and I am very happy that they are doing it in Drammen and Vestre Viken, she adds. When asked why this is not more extensive from the start, the minister says that several hospitals and municipalities in Norway cooperate so that the midwives can work in both places, but that in Drammen it is done very systematically and that it is linked to the same midwife must follow up the woman throughout the process. – It is not so easy to achieve. So I think it’s a good idea to try it out in a project and then we can learn from it, explains Kjerkol. I hope more people will be inspired. The project in Drammen will start in 2024 and will last for two years. – In the long term, we hope that this can become a new way of organizing maternity services in Norway, says Berger-Nortvedt at Drammen Hospital. The grant that Drammen municipality is applying for the project has now been approved by the Directorate of Health. The Ministry of Health and Care hopes that more people will be inspired to apply for a similar project. – This can really solve the staffing challenges in the future. At the same time, it will contribute to women getting a more wholesome offer during pregnancy, birth and maternity, writes senior adviser Mai-Bente Paulsen in an email to news. She said that the total framework subsidy for health center and school health services has been proposed to be increased to a total of NOK 1,069.9 million. Municipalities that have shared positions between health center and school health services and specialist health services are given priority. Norwegian documentary series. (1:6) They welcome new citizens around the clock. For the midwives at Buskerud Hospital, this never becomes routine. It’s an equally big miracle every time. In six episodes, we follow the long shifts of the midwives filled with drama, joys and sorrows.
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New model for midwives and prenatal care tested in Drammen – the health minister celebrates – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
