A boy and girl from County Armagh have become the first babies welcomed by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s new Team Diamond maternity service.
Baby Art, born to Niamh from Armagh, and baby Grace, born to Nicole from Markethill, were the first boy and girl supported by the team. Their births mark the launch of the Trust’s third Continuity of Midwifery Carer team.
How Team Diamond’s care model works
Team Diamond is designed to give women care from a small, familiar group of midwives throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Each woman has a named midwife within the team, giving her a consistent point of contact and the opportunity to become familiar with the professionals providing her care.
Both mothers said they felt well supported and valued having a consistent point of contact during their maternity care. The model is intended to reduce the need for women to repeat their story at appointments, while allowing midwives to understand their individual needs.
“Women tell us how important it is to be cared for by midwives who know them and understand their individual needs.”
Maria Garvey, the Trust’s Lead Midwife for Continuity of Midwifery Carer, said women could feel reassured when the team was familiar with their care. She said the Trust was delighted to welcome the first babies supported by Team Diamond and would look forward to caring for more women and families.
Third continuity team for the Southern Trust
The Trust established Team Emerald in 2023 to cover the Craigavon, Lurgan and Portadown area. Team Sapphire followed in 2024 in the Newry area, before Team Diamond was introduced in Armagh to extend the continuity model across the Southern Trust area.
Together, the three teams have supported more than 1,100 births. Team Diamond has supported 28 births since August, according to the Trust.
“The Southern Trust is the only health and social care trust in Northern Ireland with three Continuity of Midwifery Carer teams.”
Michelle Harrison, Assistant Director of Integrated Midwifery and Women’s Health, said feedback from women and families had shown the value of the approach. She said being cared for by familiar midwives could make a positive difference throughout maternity care.
The Trust said Team Diamond builds on the work of Teams Emerald and Sapphire and enables more women and families to benefit from continuity of care.
