Left alone with the emotional surge – A qualitative study of midwives’ and obstetricians’ experiences of severe events on the labour ward
Background: Working on the labour ward entails being responsible for severe events during which a mother or baby may be injured or may die. Such events might affect decision-making, team-working, capacity for empathy, and patient safety. Aim: To explore midwives’ and obstetricians’ experiences, reactions and interpretations of being part of a severe event on the labour ward. Design. A qualitative