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Hi Damian and Talia I will send you a PM Deborah

I never thought of myself as yummy in anyway. Isn't it wonderful that just by becoming a mum and choosing to look after my child (the audacity!) I turn into a yummy mummy? and aparently I also get a husband and a bottomless credit card! If only I knew that 10 years ago!

Reclaiming Birth is a campaign by NCT, AIMS, ARM, IM UK and Albany Mums about the standard of maternity services throughout the UK. We want parents-to-be to have the best opportunity to start family life in the optimum way. Our concerns cover a range of issues: Many women and their partners are left alone in labour and get little support from overstretched midwives. Parents-to-be often don't have access to the services and support they need for the birth of their baby to be a safe, positive and life affirming event. This will only change when there are more midwives, more women being able to birth in free-standing midwifery units (Birth Centres) or at home and more midwives carrying their own caseloads and looking after parents-to-be from conception to birth and postnatally. Few parents-to-be currently have any of these options. For more information click on the links below: http://www.nct.org.uk/active/nctactivehome/reclaimingbirth http://www.savethealbany.org.uk/ALBANY/Reclaiming_Birth.html

Hi PK, sorry didn't get back to you earlier but I have been away. The Albany Midwives are not part of the Albany Mums Group so though we are supportive of them they are not part of our personal campaign. We simply feel that we had someting great and unique going on in Peckham and that has been taken away for not very good reasons. We are in talks with King's as they are planning a replacement service and we would like to know how that service compares with what we previously had. On a different, but similar note, lots of groups supportive of midwives and mums to be are getting together this Sunday 7th of March to demand from goverment improvements on maternity services. Albany Mums is one of the various groups that have put together this march. Please join us! All the information you need you can find it on our website http://www.savethealbany.org.uk/ALBANY/Reclaiming_Birth.html

Hello! Someone posted a link to this thread on the Albany Mums Facebook page so hopefully Mind HQ will get snowed under with letters of complaint. I find this really shocking. May I suggest to contact La Leche League? Sometimes they have wonderful ideas...and a bit naughty...such as sending a bunch of really committed breast feeding mothers to the crime scene :) they will need to buy loads of air freshners to stop that smell I reckon! I really feel for the poor lady that was breastfeeding. Hope she reads this thread.

Thanks sillywoman. Pk, Albany Mums are aiming to have the Albany back, not under King's, but hopefully under another more open minded body. Not only that, through this campaign we have learnt that lots of midwives would love to work following the Albany Model and lots of women would like to have this service available all over the country...and though it might sound expensive to Government it turns out its not! Regarding King's we are demanding that the claim that the Albany is unsafe is taken off the statement on their website. The CMACE report does not prove it and until that is done it is defamation. It is very unfair that such wonderful midwives have that doubt cast over them. Though, of course, it makes sense that the closure was said to be on those grounds as it is the only way a Trust can close down a service without consultation. Through this campaign Albany Mums met lots of women that were supposed to be with the Albany but were not able to due to the closure. Some ended up giving birth at home alone and others ended up at an understaffed King's. We have heard lots of horror stories in this past months! King's (and what it seems all the hospitals in the country) are understaffed and midwives undermined and forced to work in less than ideal circumstances, unable to provide the care that they wish to give to mums to be, this is only going to get worst as we know King's are doing some serious cuttings. Hope this answers your question King's CEO Tim Smart's background is anything but medical...it makes me wonder whether hospitals are turning to be just businesses!!! http://www.kch.nhs.uk/news/archive/2008/new-ceo-from-private-sector-for-kings-college-hospital/

Dear All For all of you interested I am sending a link to the CMACE report. Albany Mums read this report and had many serious concerns. Statiticians and the NCT also read the report and have written critiques about it. If anyone is interested on the NCT's critique please drop me an email and will send it to you. In the meantime I am sending links to the NCT statement and the IMUK (Independent midwives UK)statement. CMACE report http://www.cmace.org.uk/getdoc/802cb1c6-110f-4657-9bef-3403c81e5ba3/120110_STATEMENT-RE-REPORT-ON-ALBANY-GROUP-PRACTIC.aspx NCT statement: http://www.nationalchildbirthtrust.com/press-office/press-releases/view/190 IMUK statement http://www.independentmidwives.org.uk/?node=11591 The CMACE report does not support King's claim that the Albany Practice is unsafe and it does not advise the closure of the practice. Albany Mums are now demanding a full review, including all KCH maternity services to be conducted. We have also asked from King's statistics and morbidity rates, we are still waiting for this information.

SCREENING FUNDRAISER - for the Save The Albany Campaign Ricki Lake - "The Business Of Being Born" Thursday 18th February Doors open 7.30, Screening starts 8pm. At the Art's Bar (above Funky Monkey Pub) 25a Camberwell Church Street SE5. (Suggested Entry donation ?5.00) See the documentary, take advantage of the bar and know that you are going a long way to helping the cause... http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/trailer.php

Dear All For all of you interested I am sending a link to the CMACE report. Albany Mums read this report and had many serious concerns. Statiticians and the NCT also read the report and have written critiques about it. If anyone is interested on the NCT's critique please drop me an email and will send it to you. In the meantime I am sending links to the NCT statement and the IMUK (Independent midwives UK)statement. CMACE report http://www.cmace.org.uk/getdoc/802cb1c6-110f-4657-9bef-3403c81e5ba3/120110_STATEMENT-RE-REPORT-ON-ALBANY-GROUP-PRACTIC.aspx NCT statement: http://www.nationalchildbirthtrust.com/press-office/press-releases/view/190 IMUK statement http://www.independentmidwives.org.uk/?node=11591 The CMACE report does not support King's claim that the Albany Practice is unsafe and it does not advise the closure of the practice. Albany Mums are now demanding a full review, including all KCH maternity services to be conducted. We have also asked from King's statistics and morbidity rates, we are still waiting for this information.

Another article regarding the Albany. http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2010/01/a-group-of-midwives-like-no-other/

Michael, thanks for posting all your research, you did a really great job. And so sorry to hear about your losses. Article on The Times. Worth a look, I think it sums up what is going on. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article6998883.ece

jollybaby, I am only quoting what Leoni Penna said on the MSLC meeting, she is the one that mentioned the stuff about the records...I know it sounds unbelievable, that is exactly how I felt, luckily there were around 10 of us there that heard the same. I totally agree with you "If there is any concern about fitness to practice it should be investigated", but so far all the reasons that Kings gives as to why they have closed the practice have been proved irrelevant. As a mother and King's and Albany's "client" I feel I have got the right to see the report and to have the reasons for the Albany closure explained properly, backed up by an unbias report and not by one which itself says that from the data provided can not draw any meaningful conclusions. I am just fighting for my right to know the truth!

Keef you are right. Unfortunately this is human nature I am afraid. There is contradictory information and therefore people chooses what they believe in. I really would love to know the truth and I am sure so it will every one else, independently of the side they are taking at moment. Don't forget most of us are women and just want a caring and safe place where to give birth. I am curious though, how do you propose to solve the issue?

The thing that bugs me the most is how on earth they have got this statistics worked out when the obstetritian itself said that historically they have not been keeping records, and...isn't this why they paid, what I believe ?80K, for this report for which they provided the data? And as far as I am aware the report itself is inconclusive! Kings keeps repeating the same blurb, quoting numbers without actually backing them up. The one statistical analysis that they commisioned came back with inconclusive results even after they hand picked the cases to be studied. This is hardly grounds to make such an important decision and to besmirch the names of a internationally respected midwifery practice. To be honest, whichever the case, King's is to blame. If the Albany are proved innocent (they have been cleared of all wrong doings about the Polish baby and the report is inconclusive, the two being the backbone of their decision or so they claimed originally) then Kings needs to publicly apologize and reinstate them. And if the Albany are guilty I just can't believe that King's kept renovating their contract for 12 years!!!! putting all our babies at risk. That is beyond negligence! bignumber5, I suggested to Leoni Penna to educate the midwives and supervise them instead of closing them down, as this seemed a less dramatic action. She said that hopefully what this report will demostrate is that they are doing so many things wrong that re-educating is not an option. Furthermore the polish baby was delivered at hospital, either they are to blame or they are not. Either they are good midwives or they are not.

maybe not everyone feels the need to have a say about everything and anything.

Just to clarify that The Albany worked with an "all risk" caseload. The figures quoted by Powerparent are statistics that have been around for a couple of years and have been quoted in several journals and articles. King's never questioned those figures which leads me to believe that they agreed with them. Furthermore The Albany had been subcontracted by King's for 12 years...why! they didn't realise what they were doing up until now???. Whatever the reason for King's getting rid of the Albany have nothing to do with their performance (unless they are being punished for being so good and getting better results, with their "alternative" ways, than the hospital they are subcontracted by). The reason given by King's to the midwives for terminating the contract so abruptly is no longer refering to the report (I find this very interesting!) I know I said it before but feel I need to say it again. Regarding the baby that instigated this report by King's the Albany has been cleared of all wrong doings. Buggie, you have all the right to question what we are all saying and I invite you to do your own research and come to one of our meetings to share it. I am as keen as you are to get to the bottom of this. As a mum I really would love to know where is the safest place to birth my next child! Keef, you DO share the world with very special people. I am delighted you are in this world too. :)

Thanks Aloha, will mention that to the group!

I am so delighted for all of you that had wonderful experiences, whether is with the Albany, at King's or anywhere else. Just because we want to Save the Albany and think they are doing a wonderful job doesn't mean that we (speaking for the Albany Mums group, which I shouldn't) don't think that there is a time and place for everything and sometimes going to hospital is the only option. We are fighting for choice. If you have been given a choice and explained all the options and you want to have your baby at hospital because that is what is right for you, then that is without a shadow of a doubt the way it should be! And if you are happy not to have continuity of care then that is just great. I had my baby with the Albany but first and foremost I am a mother and I love my baby and my future babies to come. I don't support the Albany just because I received an amazing service from them (amazing by the way, doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about all they have done for me). I support the Albany because after doing research the allegations just don't make sense!.When the rumour started about the Albany being under threat a bunch of mums got together and started to investigate what truth could be in that. I was being selfish really, I wanted to know whether they would be a good option for the future. We attended meetings at King's, as mentioned in my previous posts, and what we heard was not convincing at all. We have asked Tim Smart, King's CEO and Kate Yiannouzis, Head of Midwifery, for a meeting as to explain more about the report that had been commisioned (that was before the report was finished). I think we had the right since this decision will affect us and the community. We also mentioned to them that based on the MCSL meeting that we attended and the information we received from Leoni Penna that we were concerned the report was bias (then we were proved right when the report itself said "The study methodology employed does not lend itself to a meaningful statistical analysis". We contacted Tim again once the decision of closing the Albany had been made and the report had been received by all the parties involved asking again for that meeting, we also asked for the MCSL meeting minutes and to see the report...we are still waiting! As I understand it King's also put a stop to various articles that were supposed to appear on national newspapers saying that they were bias as King's hadn't had the chance to give their side of the story...well King's...we are waiting! Surely should not be too difficult, if a bunch of mums can organise Press Releases to fight for what they believe in, surely the Press Office at King's should be able to put one together pretty swifly...3 days have gone by...so far nothing. We are also DESPERATELY trying to get in touch with other communities, apart from the middle class one mentioned above, hanging posters everywhere and anywhere, but as mumof3girlies mentioned it seem to be left to the middle classes (though it makes me laugh to think about myself as middle class, I live in Peckham after all!) to fight for all of us. Everyone is welcome though and if you have any ideas as to how to get these women involved please do let us know. The Albany has got a Database with all these women contacts but naturally they can't and they haven't shared it with us...even though they are under threat they still have got principles!

Hello All It is not the Albany saying that King's were cherry picking the data, it was Leoni Penna, King's obstetritian, that said so (actually she said that she "hand picked" the cases), in a Kings, Guys & St Thomas's MSLC (maternity services liaison committee) meeting on Thursday 26th of November. Leoni Penna, and I suppose her team, are the ones that commisioned this report and provided the data for it. Interesting to know that this company is now private and therefore is being paid. In the report, however, they estate that "The study methodology employed does not lend itself to a meaningful statistical analysis" but still they went ahead compiling a report based on the data given...I can't blame them, as a private company they need the money! Previous independent reports of the practice show amazing figures. Albany Mums did their research and it can be seen on their website www.savethealbany.org.uk. Furthermore in that meeting Leoni Penna kept refering to the sad death of a baby which was refered to in the Channel 4 piece (or was it the Guardian's?), http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/video/2009/dec/07/albany-midwives) as an example of the Midwives supposedly bad practice (well, if there were so many of them you would think there would be loads to pick from). I am glad to say that the Midwives involved in this case have since been cleared of any wrong doings!

Unfortunately the Albany Practice has been closed down. It seems that the reason given by King's is that they are not subcontracting any services any longer. (It seems to me that if this is the reason they claim for closing them down then the report that they commissioned must have been very kind to the Albany :) All the women that were booked with the Albany before the suspention were promised a midwife from another team or King's if they still wanted to have a homebirth. This promised is not being fulfilled as we speak and all the community teams in the area seem to be fully booked. I know a mum that has contacted all the teams mentioned in this thread and unfortunately they can't take any more mothers on, which is understandable. Prdarling I don't know the technicalities as to how the Albany made it work so well but they did, though it seems rather impossible doesn't it?...well, that is how good they are. And of course by praising the Albany I am not in any way saying that the Brierly, The Lanes, Oakwood etc are not good. I would be very sad to see them being closed down as well, though I fear it might go that way in the future> To sign a petition for the Albany to be reinstated please go to http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/32641.html

Dear All I am a mum that has given birth recently (15 of June) to a gorgeous baby boy with the Albany Midwives. I haven't had time to read all that has been posted (crying baby in my lap etc...) so probably I am just repeating what other mums have posted. The main aim of this post is, however, to inform you that a group of Albany mums, past and present, have set up a group in Facebook called "Albany Mums". This was created so we could keep each other informed about what is going on with the Albany Midwives, to give our support to them if so we wish and to support and inform of the choices available to all the Albany "mums to be" that are affected by this situation. Please if you had a baby with the Albany or you were supposed to have one sign up to this group and please inform of this group to all the "Albany Mums" you might know. In the meantime some facts to clarify the present situation. - Albany Midwives have been suspended from delivering home births but they are still able to deliver hospital births. The "mums to be" have got the option of having a home birth with another team or go to hospital with their midwives. We have information in the facebook page as to who to contact if you want to have a home birth. - Albany Midwives are been investigated and the result of that investigation should be made public on the 16th of November. Having said this it has already been postponed a couple of times. - There are some stats in this 2007 article from The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/jul/24/1 - If you would like to commend the Albany Midwives (if you think they deserve it please take the time to do this), as a group and/or individuals please go to http://www.kch.nhs.uk. Click on Careers and then on King's commendations. - If you would like to complain to King's and other bodies about the distress the Albany Midwives suspention has caused you sign up to Facebook for a list of contacts. If you dont have access to facebook and you would like info regarding contact details please let me know. Hope this has been a bit helpful and to see you in the facebook page.