FPHC Wellbeing: pregnancy, maternity and return-to-work guidelines

In 2022, the Faculty of Pre-hospital Care (FPHC) report on 'Valuing staff, valuing patients' was published, outlining the need to 'seek out and remedy secondary stressors', such as training burdens or financial costs. As part of developing an FPHC well-being charter addressing such stressors, focus groups and survey responses identified the lack of guidelines surrounding maternity, pregnancy and return to work as a key stressor in the pre-hospital setting. The aim of this study is therefore to outline the FPHC guidelines for pregnancy, maternity and return to work following this.

Questionnaire and focus group responses, alongside a literature search, were utilised. This was led by the FPHC Wellbeing Group. Additionally, responses from conferences and author contacts were incorporated. Participants were sought from a range of pre-hospital organisations, including National Health Service ambulance trusts, air ambulance organisations and voluntary organisations such as Mountain Rescue, to ensure representation. This guidance has been reviewed by the FPHC executive board.

All pre-hospital organisations require a maternity and parental-leave policy to be in place. Individualised risk assessments are required, and maternal preferences should be incorporated where practicable. Personalised return-to-work programmes for individuals after a period of maternity or parental leave should exist. Legal requirements relating to breastfeeding on the return to work must also be met.

The FPHC pregnancy, maternity and return-to-work guidelines outline recommendations for pre-hospital organisations to perform risk assessments, manage risk and promote maternal choice for pregnant pre-hospital employees.