Closure: How the flagship Albany Midwifery Practice, at the heart of its South London community, was demonised and dismantled

This was such an important book to be written and a necessary redress to the account which had been given.I still remember where I was when I heard, with disbelief, that the Albany was under threat of closure and then of the closure itself.The Albany had been a beacon of hope for a relationship based model of care for midwifery which could be replicated in the NHS where there was a will to do so. It is no wonder King's felt threatened by the outstanding outcomes of the Practice. As one other reviewer said, as soon as Cathy Warwick left, I felt that the Practice might be under threat.I also felt compelled to respond to the 1 star review: no one forced midwives to work like that. They chose to do so. That review also ignored the hounding and demonising of Becky Reed.This hounding has/had been experienced by any midwife seeking to practice outwith the mainstream medicalised model of care.The 1 star reviewer also mentioned the closure of the One 2 One and Neighbourhood Midwives as being too expensive to run. What would they say to the fact that the payout for litigation claims for adverse outcomes in maternity care would more than adequately pay for models of care which might actually prevent these adverse outcomes.It is very important to remember and point out that NO COMPLAINTS WERE MADE FROM THE WOMEN THEMSELVES! King's were obviously embarrassed at the comparison of stats between the service they provided and that provided by the Albany. The book rips to shreds the "methodology" used to massage the HIE figures.

'Closure' Tells the story of the demise of a highly successful Midwifery Practice in South East London. At the same time it details the relentless shattering of a midwife's career. If this story were fiction it would be re-viewed as a great page turner. Sadly it is entirely true and has taken the authors six years of hard work, dedication and painstaking attention to detail, dates and data, to produce this excellent account of the dismantling of a highly successful midwifery practice. It is a must read for anyone working in the NHS or the childbirth arena. It quite literally is a shocking story, told without sensationalising the course of events. This powerful story speaks for itself, but also echoes the parallel experiences of midwives throughout the UK who have tried to act on robust evidence in support midwifery-led-care provision for women in Birth Centres and at home in the heart of their communities. It is anticipated that 'Closure' may act as a catalyst for long awaited change and improvement for the care of women both nationally and internationally. We must be very grateful to the authors.

This book will be a difficult read for anyone concerned with high quality maternity care. The Albany practice in South East London was clearly a challenge to mainstream hospital births: it offered the very best situation to pregnant women, but the autonomy of these midwives was seen as a challenge as they were not under the direct control of the Kings NHS Trust, who would have seen its way of delivering care as 'chutzpah'.The original data forming the objections by the Trust was inaccurate, and seemingly, never corrected. Astonishingly, Kings offered these same midwives employment in the hospital, having closed down the Albany project that had been staffed by these midwives.Yet another vital service that is 'broken' in today's Britain.

This book tells the story of the Albany Midwifery Practice, and is co-written by one of the midwives who was at the centre of what happened there. It is a fascinating read, and shows how impossible it was to challenge decisions made without clarity and evidence that seemed to change. It is a book to reflect on and raises many broader questions about our healthcare system. Above all, it is a testament to the Albany Practice and the care and love that it provided to so many in South East London.

The recording of the Albany Practice really needed to be documented. The power of the 'System', the lack of professionalism and care by managers, lack of communication by the senior colleagues and managers, and our governing bodies is appalling. The 'horizontal violence', with continuing evidence of bullying within the 'system' continues to undermine the midwifery profession. The sad sad lack of the 'powers that be' to listen to the evidence is so so sad for women throughout the world. The medicalisation of birth undermines mothers and fathers, and I am sure contributes to marital breakdown, depression and continues to enhance fear and distress for pregnant women world wide. Thank you Becky and Nadine, and to the countless academics and midwives who continue to pursue and publish the evidence that should make birth better for women. Deborah Purdue

An essential read for anyone involved or interested in women’s health and motherhood. As well as documenting the injustice the Albany midwifes have been subject to, it demonstrates so well the wider issues relating to how childbirth is viewed and understood from the mainstream medical perspective; and how this results in many pregnant women receiving substandard care. The Albany Midwifery Practice is a model that should be available to all pregnant women and its loss, as the book shows, cuts across wider issues relating to women, motherhood, ethnicity and class as well as providing a moving personal story of injustice and vindication.

Amazing book, absolutely gripping. If anyone is wondering why NHS Midwives are leaving in droves, read this description of how the sort of midwifery that many midwives and women long for, can be destroyed because of ridiculous and blind professional envy. Very disturbing and very sad.

In response to the one star review above , of course there is proof, the Albany were my midwives on 2 occasions , I chose them as I have a health condition and wanted and needed reassurance and individual care which is what I got and much much more … this book calls out what happened , the proof is that they won .. well worth a read .. women will fight when it comes to their babies … all hail the Albany