LET’S TALK EPIDURALS - TEA TROLLEY TRAINING FOR MIDWIVES

Tooba Nawaz1, Freddie Downes2, Katie Morse2, Nuala Lucas3, Sneh Shah3, Abigail Richardson3

1Senior Clinical Fellow in Anaesthesia, 2Trainee in Anaesthesia, 3Consultant Anaesthetist

INTRODUCTION

• Epidural analgesia stands as the gold standard for pain management during labour.

• Whilst epidurals are inserted by an anaesthetist, their optimal and safe use relies not solely on their initial placement but also on subsequent management, including top-ups and vigilant monitoring.

• In this continuum of care, midwives assume a pivotal role, by overseeing and administering epidural analgesia top-ups, ensuring the ongoing efficacy of epidurals and promptly identifying any complications or concerns that may arise.

• Recognising the critical importance of maintaining proficiency in epidural management among midwives, regular and comprehensive multidisciplinary education is indispensable.

• Such education serves not only to uphold the highest standards of patient care but also to mitigate the risks associated with epidural administration, preventing potentially catastrophic adverse events [1].

• By fostering a culture of continuous learning and refinement, the multidisciplinary labour ward team can ensure that epidural analgesia remains a safe and reliable option for labouring women.

• Inspired by the innovative ‘Tea Trolley Training' methodology, initially conceived in Bath for airway teaching [2], we were curious to see if this approach would work on Labour Ward to provide midwives with targeted refresher training on epidurals.

• Tea Trolley Training is characterised by its accessibility and informality and brings education directly to the clinical setting.