Pre-hospital maternity care

This event has been organised by South East Coast Ambulance Services, Research and Development department.

Join us to hear from four researchers in the field of pre-hospital maternity care, explore links to your clincial practice and network with others.

We welcome all trust staff and students to attend this free event. However spaces are limited so it is advised to book early.

Info: This talk will explore the findings of a recent study on the socio-economic factors influencing pregnancy-related ambulance attendance in Greater London. The discussion will highlight how deprivation, language barriers, housing conditions, and access to healthcare impact emergency calls for maternity cases. Understanding these spatial inequalities is crucial for paramedics, as it can inform more equitable resource allocation, improve patient care pathways, and potentially reduce unnecessary demand for ambulance services.

This session is particularly relevant to frontline clinicians seeking to understand why ambulances are needed for certain maternity cases. Findings suggest that maternity-related ambulance demand may not always be tied to clinical necessity but rather to wider socio-economic factors, such as low adult skill levels and healthcare accessibility, which influence patient decision-making in times of uncertainty.

Info: Dr Laura Abbott is an Associate Professor of Research at the University of Hertfordshire, a Registered Midwife, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives. Her work focuses on perinatal care in the criminal justice system, including her doctoral research on pregnant women in Pr*son. Laura co-authored The Birth Charter and has contributed to policy reviews for Pr*son staff supporting pregnant women and mothers. She co-founded Pregnancy in Pr*son Partnership International (PIPPI) and the UK-wide Pr*son Midwives Action Group (PMAG). Her current research includes the ESRC-funded Lost Mothers Project and exploring creative ways to disseminate research through art and theatre.

Info: A lunch will be provided for attendees

Host or Publisher South East Coast Ambulance Service