The Attitudes of Midwives Towards NHS Fee-Charging and Data-Sharing Policies for Migrant Mothers in the UK: A Q-Methodology Study

Abstract

As part of the UK’s “hostile environment”, individuals who are not “ordinarily resident” within the state are subject to fee-charging and data-sharing practices when accessing maternity care. This Q-methodological study aimed to capture and analyze attitudes towards these practices, by asking 21 midwives to rank a range of statements by level of agreement. A factor analysis of these rankings identified four distinct attitudes towards fee-charging within maternity care, with some supporting these policies as a means of protecting the institution, while others rejected them as discriminatory or difficult to implement. Consequently, this paper presents recommendations to improve efficiency and alleviate conflict around the implementation of these practices within maternity care.