The impact of team midwifery on GPs

Abstract

Many GPs in the UK have faced changes in midwifery service provision following the publication of Changing Childbirth (Department of Health, 1993). However, there is little documented evidence of how new midwifery schemes have affected the work of GPs. This study investigated: GPs' satisfaction with the current maternity and midwifery services; their views of the effects of team midwifery on GPs, midwives and women and whether it improved the maternity service; and assessed their training needs in relation to team midwifery. All GPs received a survey. Ten GPs associated with the team midwifery scheme were also interviewed. A total of 87 (50%) surveys were returned. Most GPs who responded were satisfied with current maternity and midwifery service provision. Most surgeries (66%) mainly provided shared care, the preferred mode of care delivery for 74% of respondents. Similar aspects for praise and criticism of either midwifery scheme were raised with communication figuring prominently at both extremes. Views of team midwifery ranged from support of the philosophy behind the scheme to anxieties about the GPs' role in maternity care. Fewer respondents thought team midwifery was better for GPs (48%), than for midwives (59%) or women (60%). Those without direct experience of team midwifery were more likely to think that GPs needed training in response to the implementation of team midwifery.