We’re continuing to tell the story of how Healthcare Improvement Scotland staff are helping in the fight against COVID-19.  Today, to mark International Day of the Midwife, Healthcare Staffing Programme’s Laura Boyce tells us how deployment back to a maternity unit has provided a glimmer of hope in the middle of the pandemic.

The joyous moment a baby is born and a family grown is a wonderful experience. As a midwife, I’ve been privileged to see so many of these moments during my career. It’s what makes my job special.

My background is in intrapartum care (high risk labour and birth, including maternity operating theatres). Although I’ve been on secondment from my role at Crosshouse Hospital’s Ayrshire Maternity Unit since June 2018, first with Scottish Government and now with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, returning there to help during the pandemic feels like going home in many ways.

“Maternity services can always be a bit unpredictable, with peaks and troughs of activity. We always say there can be an element of predictable unpredictability about it! COVID-19 has, of course, made things just that little bit more unpredictable”

During my secondment I’ve been on regular ‘Keep in Touch’ days to maintain my clinical competency, and a lot of the care, policies and guidance are very similar to when I worked there full time. The biggest challenge has been getting to know all the new faces and working out who is doing what role. Oh, and the nightshift feeling…yuk! I haven’t missed that feeling.

Maternity services can always be a bit unpredictable, with peaks and troughs of activity. We always say there can be an element of predictable unpredictability about it! COVID-19 has, of course, made things just that little bit more unpredictable, but we’ve currently got good staff levels as all additional roles have been paused to allow a focus on frontline care giving, and a streamlined service is provided for routine clinics. Obviously there are some areas more affected by staff isolating or shielding than others, but the service is working well to redeploy and continually review.

Laura on the ward before the COVID-19 outbreak – the personalised scrub cap has had to be swapped for a disposable one under PPE guidance.

“A new baby is a huge family affair and it’s sad to see the impact COVID-19 is having on what is a wonderful time for women and their families. Yet I can honestly say the general public have been very supportive and understanding of why these measures have been implemented. And oddly, this situation does have a benefit: mums are getting precious uninterrupted time with their newborns, something they don’t always get in today’s busy modern world.”

The pandemic has, of course, affected our “business as usual”. Women are attending triage, initial assessment and for induction of labour alone, as there is currently no visiting due to COVID-19 regulations. However, they are still supported and encouraged to have a symptom-free birth partner with them for labour and delivery. I think some women are obviously nervous about attending or having hospital stays alone, but the staff are trying their utmost to provide that extra emotional support for them and make their journey as stress-free as possible.

There are other downsides to the current situation, as siblings and grandparents aren’t getting to visit their new families. But technology is a wonderful thing and we’re actively encouraging people to keep in touch. A new baby is a huge family affair and it’s sad to see the impact COVID-19 is having on what is a wonderful time for women and their families. Yet I can honestly say the general public have been very supportive and understanding of why these measures have been implemented. And oddly, this situation does have a benefit: mums are getting precious uninterrupted time with their newborns, something they don’t always get in today’s busy modern world.

“The best thing about going back to the labour ward is that it’s reignited that passion inside me that started my professional journey all those years ago. Watching women become mothers, and couples become families, is an exceptionally privileged opportunity. For me, it’s my little rainbow in the current storm.”

There are obviously some new challenges to overcome for staff, too, and providing care whilst wrestling to seamlessly master the donning and doffing of PPE has been a challenge  – the scrub cap I’m wearing in the picture here is my personalised one; we’re all having to use disposal ones instead just now.  Yet the teamwork has been truly nothing short of exceptional. Those special moments when you see that new family come together for the first time are what gets us through the tough times, too. The best thing about going back to the labour ward is that it’s reignited that passion inside me that started my professional journey all those years ago. Watching women become mothers, and couples become families, is an exceptionally privileged opportunity. For me, it’s my little rainbow in the current storm.

More information

Visit the Healthcare Improvement Scotland website for information on our response to COVID-19.