The effect of the developing role of the maternity support worker on the professional accountability of the midwife

The recent rise in the number of maternity support workers (MSWs) in the United Kingdom (UK) has been welcomed by midwifery managers and supported by social policy surrounding improvements in maternity care. The training and role of the MSW varies considerably. Whilst most training is undertaken through clinical practice, more recent advances in the preparation of MSWs have resulted in them not only being trained to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3, but also to foundation certificate or degree level. Consequently some MSWs are performing tasks that would traditionally be undertaken by a midwife, potentially leading to the erosion of the midwife's role in the future. From current evidence, midwives are not fully aware of how the developing role of MSWs may affect their own professional accountability. This paper therefore aims to challenge midwives into reconsidering how MSWs may be effectively incorporated into the midwifery team such that the quality of care is not compromised and the midwife's professional accountability is never put at risk.