Steps have been taken to improve the workplace environment at Jersey’s maternity department, after critical reviews and concerns from a leading midwifery union about persistent “poor culture” and retention issues, according to its leader.

Director of Midwifery and Nursing Roslyn Bullen-Bell said psychological safety training, group sessions, and interdisciplinary team-building exercises have been carried out to improve the workplace culture within her Department since she stepped into the role this time last year.

“Cultural work is not something that happens overnight,” she said. “It takes years to embed in practice. We’ve worked very hard on that, and it’s definitely work that’s continuing.”

The improvements follow years of scrutiny of the service.

The Royal College of Midwives previously found that staff perceived “maternity management are not prioritising their health and wellbeing” with midwives unable to take breaks during 13.5-hour day shifts and 11.5-hour night shifts.

Pictured: A survey of RCM union members from July 2022 found a “persistence of poor culture and negative behaviours”.

A critical report in 2021 found that Jersey’s maternity facilities were “inadequate and highly unacceptable”, and should be upgraded as soon as possible.

A total of 127 recommendations were made in response to the review in the Maternity Improvement Plan – 87 of which had been completed as of January 2024.

But in a heated Scrutiny hearing last year, Professor Simon Mackenzie – who came to the island in January 2023 as the clinical lead in a five-person “change team” – said that progress in the maternity department had been “helped along by the fact that there was going to be this inquest into the death of Amelia Clyde-Smith“.

In April 2024, an inquest into the death of baby Amelia – who was just 33 days old when she passed away – found that “failings in the midwifery team” and “neglect” on the labour ward contributed to the tragic outcome.

“I’m proud of how we work together”

To address communication issues, Ms Bullen-Bell said she has introduced weekly ‘time to talk’ sessions where colleagues are able to come and discuss any concerns they might have.

“I’ve been very visible with them, and I’m proud of how we work together as a team,” she said.

The department is also tackling staffing problems with two new midwives due to start in the coming months and several agency staff already having transitioned to permanent roles.

“By the end of March, our staffing will be up to our expected level. We will have no vacancies,” Ms Bullen-Bell said.

“We don’t rest on our laurels”

“We don’t rest on our laurels,” Ms Bullen-Bell added. “We review every action to ensure it’s not just implemented but maintained.”

More recently, the department has come under fire for suspending its home birth service in October to carry out an internal review of protocols, staff training, and resources.

The decision has left expectant mothers and users feeling “saddened”, “devastated”, “disheartened” and “shocked”, while a petition calling for the immediate reinstatement of the service has gathered almost 600 signatures.

Deputy Lucy Stephenson, a politician who has herself given birth recently, said: “I sincerely hope the department maintains its commitment to reinstating the service and would urge those in charge to ensure this happens as quickly as possible, while of course ensuring it is safe to do so.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Louise Doublet – who is Chair of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel – has called on the Health Minister to “improve communication” regarding the suspension of Jersey’s home birth service.

Ms Bullen-Bell, who previously held senior roles in UK trusts and was Maternity Workforce and Transformation Lead at NHS England, was appointed as part of broader efforts to improve maternal care following the 2023 Scrutiny review.

“Cultural work is not something that happens overnight”

“I’m proud of how we work together”

“We don’t rest on our laurels”

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