Pregnant women still have no access to 'Parentcraft' sessions

Despite DHSC claim that online resources would be available in February

Pregnant women on the Isle of Man still aren’t being offered any Parentcraft sessions in person or virtually.

That’s despite an assurance from the health and social care minister that new online resources would be available by early February.

Claire Christian made the pledge in the House of Keys on 28 January after being questioned about why face-to-face sessions for expectant mothers had been stopped.

She said whilst Parentcraft was ‘essential for educating and supporting expectant parents in preparation for childbirth and early parenthood’ a decision had been taken to move it online.

This, the minister said, was due to feedback from previous attendees of the day sessions - which were run by midwives on Saturdays - that a ‘more accessible and flexible’ approach was needed.

You can find out more HERE.

Online Model

Mrs Christian said online videos would be ‘scaled to reach more parents’, would be accessible at any time and useful for those not comfortable in group settings or whose first language wasn’t English.  

She told her fellow politicians videos would include modules about labour preparation, newborn care, breastfeeding and post-natal recovery as well as tours of the maternity and neonatal unit.

Women, she said, would also have the opportunity to discuss the video content with their midwives through their pregnancy and could feedback via an electronic form to help ‘inform and shape service delivery’.

“Transitioning maternity Parentcraft sessions to video-based sessions will help with flexibility of resources whilst maintaining service delivery, consistency for families and safety.” – Claire Christian (DHSC Minister)

She denied that the decision was a cost-saving measure and said the decision would be reviewed in six-months’ time.

‘Advantages’

Information released today (5 March) following a Freedom of Information request by Manx Radio shows the decision to scrap the face-to-face sessions was taken last summer.

Minutes from a meeting of the Integrated Women, Children and Families Care Group, on 2 August 2024, showed parenthood education would be taking a ‘new direction’.

However it stated this was due to ‘current difficulties in covering these sessions’.  

“We feel that although the face-to-face element will be lost we are confident there are many advantages to this new delivery.” – Manx Care

Eight months later the online content which was discussed in this meeting – and which Manx Care claims has been ‘recorded internally during working hours’ - is still not publicly available.

Manx Care has told Manx Radio two midwives were required to provide the face-to-face Parentcraft sessions at a cost of approximately £234 each. 

Feedback

Manx Radio asked Manx Care to provide the feedback the DHSC minister referenced in her answer to the House of Keys which was said to be the justification for the change to the operating model.

Twelve notes were provided which are said to be from the face-to-face sessions including:

• "The videos could have been improved"
• "Would like more post birth advice inclusive of maternal hormone changes"
• "Would like to know more about what to pack in a maternal bag"
• "The face-to-face sessions are very lengthy (8 ½ hours on a Saturday)"
• "How to bath a baby"
• "There were uncomfortable aspects for families to do with the environment i.e. being too cold and provided with uncomfortable chairs"
• "To discuss different methods of delivery and further labor"
• "Would like longer infant feeding presentation"
• "Wanted to receive the information in video form"
• "Would like more information on baby care, baby first aid, safe sleep and relaxation techniques"
• "Health visitor input wasn’t showcased clearly"
• "Would like the slides to be sent as a lot of information is given during a face-to-face session"

‘Daddy Baby Care’

At present it is only expectant fathers on the Isle of Man who receive face-to-face support through ‘Daddy Baby Care’ sessions.

Minutes from a meeting of the Integrated Women, Children and Families Care Group, from June 2024, show the team had reported ‘good feedback’ from attendees.

Manx Care noted at this meeting it was the intention to continue and grow this service which sees men offered a two-and-a-half-hour session on a weeknight.

According to the DHSC the sessions support ‘dad’s confidence in the skills needed to care for their newborn baby’ which are then replicated to mothers whilst they are on the maternity unit following birth.

Manx Care told Manx Radio two midwives run the ‘Daddy Baby Care’ sessions at a cost of approximately £52 each.

Other Support:

The lack of Parentcraft sessions has sparked a retired midwife to offer her own in a bid to fill the gap.

You can find out more HERE.

The Department of Health and Social Care says it is aware of a ‘once registered midwife’ who is supporting families and delivering a programme similar to Parentcraft sessions.

It adds that it feels there is lots of information and support available to families through third-sector organisations and it’s worked with these to ensure materials are up to date.

But it adds that whilst ‘every effort’ is made to work with other parties it, and Manx Care, are not in a position to financially support these ‘multiple agencies’.

It adds: “In addition to endorse third-sector organisations we need confidence in their knowledge and skillset.

“For sessions such as Parentcraft and Aquanatal we would only consider endorsing a registered practitioner who was up to date with current midwifery practice and local guidelines and policies.”