TY - JOUR
T1 - The United Kingdom and the Netherlands maternity care responses to COVID-19
T2 - A comparative study
AU - ASPIRE-COVID19 Research Team
AU - van den Berg, Lauri M.M.
AU - Balaam, Marie Clare
AU - Nowland, Rebecca
AU - Moncrief, Gill
AU - Topalidou, Anastasia
AU - Thompson, Suzanne
AU - Thomson, Gill
AU - de Jonge, Ank
AU - Downe, Soo
AU - Ellison, George
AU - Fenton, Alan
AU - Heazell, Alexander
AU - Kingdon, Carol
AU - Matthews, Zoe
AU - Severns, Alexandra
AU - Wright, Alison
AU - Akooji, Naseerah
AU - Cull, Jo
AU - van den Berg, Lauri
AU - Crossland, Nicola
AU - Feeley, Claire
AU - Franso, Beata
AU - Heys, Steph
AU - Sarian, Arni
AU - Booker, Maria
AU - Sandall, Jane
AU - Thornton, Jim
AU - Lynskey-Wilkie, Tisian
AU - Wilson, Vanessa
AU - Abe, Rebecca
AU - Awe, Tinuke
AU - Adeyinka, Toyin
AU - Bender-Atik, Ruth
AU - Brigante, Lia
AU - Brione, Rebecca
AU - Cadée, Franka
AU - Duff, Elizabeth
AU - Draycott, Tim
AU - Fisher, Duncan
AU - Francis, Annie
AU - Franx, Arie
AU - Erasmus, M. C.
AU - Frith, Lucy
AU - Griew, Louise
AU - Harmer, Clea
AU - Homer, Caroline
AU - Knight, Marian
AU - Mansfield, Amanda
AU - Marlow, Neil
AU - Mcaree, Trixie
N1 - Funding Information:
This research is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), as part of UK Research and Innovation’s rapid response to COVID-19 [Grant number ES/V004581/1 ]. Full details of the main study are available via ResearchRegistry (researchregistry5911) and via UKRI Gateway ( https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ES%2FV004581%2F1 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors
PY - 2022/4/5
Y1 - 2022/4/5
N2 - Background: The national health care response to coronavirus (COVID-19) has varied between countries. The United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands (NL) have comparable maternity and neonatal care systems, and experienced similar numbers of COVID-19 infections, but had different organisational responses to the pandemic. Understanding why and how similarities and differences occurred in these two contexts could inform optimal care in normal circumstances, and during future crises. Aim: To compare the UK and Dutch COVID-19 maternity and neonatal care responses in three key domains: choice of birthplace, companionship, and families in vulnerable situations. Method: A multi-method study, including documentary analysis of national organisation policy and guidance on COVID-19, and interviews with national and regional stakeholders. Findings: Both countries had an infection control focus, with less emphasis on the impact of restrictions, especially for families in vulnerable situations. Differences included care providers’ fear of contracting COVID-19; the extent to which community- and personalised care was embedded in the care system before the pandemic; and how far multidisciplinary collaboration and service-user involvement were prioritised. Conclusion: We recommend that countries should 1) make a systematic plan for crisis decision-making before a serious event occurs, and that this must include authentic service-user involvement, multidisciplinary collaboration, and protection of staff wellbeing 2) integrate women's and families’ values into the maternity and neonatal care system, ensuring equitable inclusion of the most vulnerable and 3) strengthen community provision to ensure system wide resilience to future shocks from pandemics, or other unexpected large-scale events.
AB - Background: The national health care response to coronavirus (COVID-19) has varied between countries. The United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands (NL) have comparable maternity and neonatal care systems, and experienced similar numbers of COVID-19 infections, but had different organisational responses to the pandemic. Understanding why and how similarities and differences occurred in these two contexts could inform optimal care in normal circumstances, and during future crises. Aim: To compare the UK and Dutch COVID-19 maternity and neonatal care responses in three key domains: choice of birthplace, companionship, and families in vulnerable situations. Method: A multi-method study, including documentary analysis of national organisation policy and guidance on COVID-19, and interviews with national and regional stakeholders. Findings: Both countries had an infection control focus, with less emphasis on the impact of restrictions, especially for families in vulnerable situations. Differences included care providers’ fear of contracting COVID-19; the extent to which community- and personalised care was embedded in the care system before the pandemic; and how far multidisciplinary collaboration and service-user involvement were prioritised. Conclusion: We recommend that countries should 1) make a systematic plan for crisis decision-making before a serious event occurs, and that this must include authentic service-user involvement, multidisciplinary collaboration, and protection of staff wellbeing 2) integrate women's and families’ values into the maternity and neonatal care system, ensuring equitable inclusion of the most vulnerable and 3) strengthen community provision to ensure system wide resilience to future shocks from pandemics, or other unexpected large-scale events.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Infection Control
KW - Maternal Health Services
KW - Netherlands
KW - Newborn Care
KW - Policy Drivers
KW - United Kingdom
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128141187&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.03.010
DO - 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.03.010
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85128141187
SN - 1871-5192
JO - Women and Birth
JF - Women and Birth
ER -