A-EQUIP: The new model of midwifery supervision

Reflecting on my personal experience of statutory supervision of midwifery and considering the reflections of others, I am more convinced than ever that the new A-EQUIP (an acronym that means Advocating for Education and Quality Improvement) model of midwifery supervision will be beneficial for midwives, students, women, and babies.

The A-EQUIP model (Figure 1) was launched on 28 April and the associated operational guidance (NHS England, 2017) was published on 7 April 2017. This model replaces statutory supervision of midwifery, which ceased on 31 March 2017. The removal of statutory supervision was prompted by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report (Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman [PHSO], 2013) and subsequent reports (Kings Fund, 2015; Department of Health, 2016), that culminated in legislative change.