The association between midwifery staffing and outcomes in maternity units in England: observational study using routinely collected data

The impact of midwifery staffing on service user outcomes in maternity units in England There is little empirical evidence of the association between midwifery staffing, midwifery workforce and workplace characteristics and service user outcomes in maternity units. This project will address the impact that midwifery staffing levels and organisational characteristics have on service user outcomes in maternity units. The study aims to investigate issues such as well-being and job satisfaction among the midwifery workforce and assess to what extent an improved ratio of midwives to births is related to lower burnout and higher job satisfaction among midwives. Literature review and analysis at Trust level, using NHS maternity statistics will be the initial step followed by a multilevel logistic/multinomial regression modelling, which will incorporate clinical outcome measures, staffing (i.e. midwife FTE-birth ratio) and workforce, patient and Trust characteristics.