Volunteering in the maternity services: for whose benefit?

Area of Science:

• Maternal Health
• Healthcare Support Roles
• Volunteerism in Healthcare

Background:

• Volunteers are increasingly integrated into UK maternity services.
• There is an expectation for midwifery students to have prior volunteer experience.
• Volunteers provide crucial support to women, particularly in areas like breastfeeding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the specific roles and tasks undertaken by volunteers in maternity services.
• To question whether a shortage of midwives is causing volunteers to exceed their defined unpaid roles.
• To determine the primary beneficiaries of volunteer involvement in maternity care.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative exploration of volunteer roles.
• Analysis of the scope of volunteer responsibilities.
• Ethical considerations of unpaid work in a clinical setting.

Main Results:

• Volunteers offer significant support in various maternity care aspects.
• Potential for volunteers to undertake tasks beyond their scope due to staff shortages.
• Unclear delineation of benefits between volunteers, patients, and the service.

Conclusions:

• The expanding role of volunteers in maternity services requires careful definition and oversight.
• Addressing midwife shortages may inadvertently increase risks associated with volunteer scope creep.
• Further research is needed to clarify the ethical and practical implications for all stakeholders.