Interprofessional Working in Maternity Care

Within maternity care midwives and consultant obstetricians are frequently required to collaborate together in an attempt to provide optimal care for women and their babies. In this way they are engaging in interprofessional collaboration, a much debated and increasingly popular policy agenda within health care. However, despite the growing support for interprofessional collaboration there is a limited understanding of how patient experiences are influenced by interprofessional working. This book will shed light on this issue using insights gained from midwifery clients. The stories of the women suggest that interprofessional consultation is complex with instances of subjugation and resistance occurring simultaneously as differing professional ideologies collide. The experience of midwifery clients during interprofessional consultation will be relevant for all those involved in maternity care, and for academics and professionals who are considering ways in which policy and practice can strengthen interprofessional working.