The midwife as a border force: how hostile environment policies impact maternity care

In the UK, hostile environment policies impact all areas of life for women seeking sanctuary, including access to healthcare. This reflective article uses a human rights-based approach to analyse how these policies impact maternity care. The theoretical concept of everyday bordering is used to reflect on how these policies prevent midwives from fulfilling the caring aspect of their profession. This article discusses three issues: charging for maternity care in the UK, PREVENT training and enforced destitution. Each topic is related back to the human rights framework and discussed alongside a critical view of the midwife as an agent of border control. The article concludes by calling for more primary research to evaluate the impact of hostile environment policies on midwives and women seeking sanctuary.