Hi Jane and others on the list. In relation to research on birth place, I just wanted to let you know about research that is in the consultation stage in New Zealand. This research (also called BirthPlace) will compare outcomes for low risk women in the care of midwives, who birth at home, in primary, secondary and tertiary facilities.
"Does place of birth influence select birth outcomes for women of low obstetric risk receiving midwifery led care? A prospective, cohort study".
What is exciting about this research is that all women in the study will be cared for by lead maternity carer midwives working under a national contract so that the care package is somewhat homogenous. In other research literature place of birth is often confounded by different packages of care provided in different places. For example birth centre care often includes midwifery led, continuity of care, something that is not provided in the hospital based comparison group. New Zealand's model of maternity care offers us the opportunity to isolate the effect of place. This is a national study with collaborators in the north and south island of New Zealand.
We would love to communicate with the researchers on the birth place project in the UK so that we could share resources, ideas and generally support each other.
cheers
Deborah
Deborah Davis
Principal Lecturer
School of Midwifery
Otago Polytechnic
Private Bag 1910
Dunedin
New Zealand
ph: (03) 477 3014
fax: (03) 474 8486
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NATIONAL PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY UNIT
Project Manager-Birthplace in England Research Programme
£26,666 to £32,796
Applications are invited for the full time post of Project Manager for the
Birthplace in England Research Programme. This new post is funded by the
Department of Health for 20 months from January 2008 and is based in the
National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) at the University of Oxford.
Since the early 1990s Government policies on NHS maternity services have
supported the principle that women should have a choice of setting for
childbirth
However, reviews of research have identified major gaps in the evidence
including whether there is a difference in the rate of any good or bad
outcomes for mothers or babies depending on where birth is planned. In 2006
the Department of Health awarded funding to a collaborative group of
co-investigators from UK universities, professional, and consumer bodies led
by Professor Peter Brocklehurst (NPEU Director) to carry out the Birthplace
in England Research Programme, an integrated programme of research studies
on planned place of birth.
As Project Manager you will be the 'first point of contact' for Birthplace.
Along with strong project management skills and experience you are likely to
have received PRINCE2 training or have achieved equivalent qualifications.
You will have good data management skills and be experienced in Microsoft
Office. You will be line manager to the Birthplace Administrator. Excellent
interpersonal and communication skills are essential. This is an exciting
opportunity for an experienced project manager to develop their experience
and skills in this high-profile research programme.
For further details, and in order to submit an application, candidates
should obtain a job description from the Unit Secretary, NPEU, University of
Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF (Tel: 01865 289700) quoting
reference B2/07/005. Alternatively see our website www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/jobs.
Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Thursday 25 October 2007.
Interviews will be held on Tuesday 13 November 2007. For an informal
discussion about the post, please contact Rona McCandlish on 01865 289700.
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