Thank you, Essentially MIDIRS

I was the founding Editor of Essentially MIDIRS and a past Editor of MIDIRS Midwifery Digest. However, along with my colleagues Nadine Edwards and Becky Reed (editors of the Digest at that time), the entire Essentially MIDIRS Advisory Panel (Ina May Gaskin, Mavis Kirkham, Julie Frohlich, Jilly Ireland, Ruth Deery, Penny Champion, Emma Mills and Nadine Edwards) and several members of the Digest Editorial Board (Sheila Kitzinger, Ethel Burns and Ann Remmers), I resigned from MIDIRS when it merged with NCT. The following post was a statement I released at the time of my resignation, and a summary of the issues that led to our resignations can be found here.

As I am receiving a large number of enquiries about my position in relation to MIDIRS, I have the following statement to share. Please understand that this is all I have to say on the subject.

It is with the most enormous sadness that I have resigned as Editor of Essentially MIDIRS. Back in 2009, MIDIRS asked me to create a new monthly journal to be a sister publication to MIDIRS Midwifery Digest. I led this process and sat at the helm as Editor since the first issue of ‘EM’ was published in June 2010. I can truly say that I enjoyed every minute of this journey.

However, changes in editorial policy which will come about during the process of MIDIRS merger with NCT have led me to make the difficult decision to leave. As things currently stand, the October 2013 issue will be my last as Editor.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend a massive thank you to the Essentially MIDIRS team, past and present; Tasha Cooper, Steve Clayton, Jennie Roe and Charlotte Ince. Each of them has played a key role in making the journal a success. I have also been wonderfully supported in every dimension by the Essentially MIDIRS Advisory Panel and owe them another huge thank you, not to mention a glass of wine apiece. None of it would have been possible without the wonderful people who have written for or otherwise contributed to the journal, so thank you too. Finally, and by no means least, I want to thank the original MIDIRS staff who always worked so well as a team to support each other and make it all happen. It has been an absolute pleasure, and I shall miss you all.