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Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), despite being illegal in the UK, remains a major public health issue. This article reports the findings of a semi-structured survey, exploring current FGM services, conducted at a multi-disciplinary event. Seventy-eight respondents from the health sector, voluntary agencies, education sector and police force completed the survey. Data were analyzed descriptively. Findings suggest that training, information and practical issues need addressing. Furthermore, the routine recording of FGM data needs consideration. The FGM National Clinical group has used these findings to target areas where they can offer support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interview with Matthews Mathai, medical officer of maternal health at the World Health Organization (WHO), is presented. He outlines the main aims of the WHO. He discusses the current priorities for maternal health within the WHO. He describes the role of midwives in global health. He relates the ways by which midwives can contribute to the work carried out by WHO.

An interview with Yana Richens and Tina Lavender, consultant editors of the "British Journal of Midwifery," is presented. The interview begins with the careers of Lavender and Richens in midwifery and nursing, respectively. They then recall their appointments as journal editors and their contributions to the journal. They also offer advice to writers hoping to become editors.

An interview with Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, professor and director of midwifery and nursing at Imperial College Healthcare Trust, is presented. She talks about the latest developments on her career as of October 2011. She cites the current challenges for Directors of Midwifery and Nursing. She presents her vision for maternity care.

An interview with Dorcas Akeju, a retired midwife and chairperson of the FGM Clinical Group and Liverpool FGM Group, is presented. According to Akeju, she started her nursing career in 1969 and did her midwifery course in Nigeria from 1973 to 1974. She says that seeing people suffering inspired her to become a nurse. She mentions that accepting the Order of the British Empire was one of the highlights of her career.

An interview with Sue Thompson, midwife at Liverpool Women's National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, is presented. When asked what inspired her to become a midwife, Thomson explains that she started as a nursery nurse in a neonatal unit and being able to help women at one of the most important times in her life inspired her to enter the profession. Thompson claims that being of help to teenage mothers to come into terms with pregnancy is rewarding for her.

An interview with Sue Jacob, student services adviser of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is presented. When asked what her greatest achievement in her works with the RCM, Jacob explains that it was her support to midwives who have joined the World Health Organization (WHO) and her contribution to generation of midwives practising in senior roles. Jacob thinks that reserving her personal views to follow the organization's vision is very challenging.

An interview with Astrid Osbourne, consultant midwife at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), is presented. When asked for a brief summary of her career, she shares that she started as a cadet nurse at the Sister Dora Hospital in Walsall in 1968, and eventually became head of midwifery at UCLH. She says that she was inspired by the thought that she could influence how women received hospital care. She also describes her job as a consultant midwife.

An interview with Stephen Barker, lay chair of Nursing and Midwifery Fitness to Practise Committee, is presented. When asked what attracted him to the post, he replies that he realized that the work would be interesting and rewarding after he saw the range of issues confronting the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC). Initially, he says he found it challenging to avoid pursuing lines of enquiry not explored by representatives in order to focus and clarify issues. He believes seeing a registrant rehabilitated as most rewarding.

An interview with Tracy Copper, consultant midwife at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, is presented. When asked about her role as consultant midwife, she states that she provides clinical leadership in relation to normality on two different hospital site delivery suites. She mentions that she considers it an achievement to educate midwives about normality.

An interview with Dr. Grace Omoni, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Nairobi, is presented. Omoni spoke of having built a sound scientific base in nursing education and practice with focus on midwifery. Apart from being the chairperson of a couple of organizations, Omoni is also a consultant editor for the African Journal of Midwifery. She says maternity care should be made available for those who need the service, and midwives who are better situated can help in collaborative research and in advocacy for resource and staff motivation.

An interview with Debby Gould, chair of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Council in Great Britain, is presented. She provides a background on her career history. She mentions the processes that she goes through to become chair of the Council. She also offers her opinion on the most important decisions made by the Council.

An interview with Liz Stephens, president of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Great Britain, is presented. She offers a summary of her career in midwifery. She discusses her role as president of RCM. She describes her greatest accomplishment within the field of maternity care. She offers advice to the next RCM president.

An interview with Dame Christine Beasley (DBE) is presented. She considers her work on reducing health-care infections as one of her greatest challenges as Chief Nursing Officer. She states that she has seen hospitals helping on this cause. After being given the title Dame, she had the privilege to go to Buckingham Palace and speak with the Prince of Wales. She advises aspiring midwives not to hesitate pursuing this profession, as she sees more career opportunities in the field such as frontline care, education, management, and research.

An interview with Christine Carson, programme director of the British National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), is presented. She traces her career in the field of midwifery. She describes her role at NICE. She explains the impact of NICE on maternity care in the country. She discusses how midwives can work for NICE.

An interview with British Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) president Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran is presented. When asked about his career, he said he became a doctor in 1972 and worked in Sri Lanka, Singapore and Great Britain and have published 240 research papers. Arulkumaran says that as RCOG president he can listen to the problems of his fellows and address those problems to help them. He adds that his challenges as RCOG president include the issue of the Human Embryology Act, the H1N1 or bird flu and maternity care.

An interview with former Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group (PCG) international consumer panel coordinator Gill Gyte is presented. She offers a brief description of her involvement in maternity care as well as of the group. She also shares her views on evidence-based practice. She cites that the most difficult part of her work as PCG coordinator was trying to get the views of women from low-income nations.

An interview with Gwyneth Lewis, International Clinical Lead for Maternal Health and Maternity Services and director of Saving Mothers' Lives for the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE), is presented. She cites some highlights of her career, including heading up the AIDS unit at the British Department of Health at the height of the first epidemic. Lewis explains how her different roles in maternal care services interrelate. She also describes her vision for global maternal care.