The workshops build on an article published in summer 2025 to explore how spatial practices in labour rooms — including furniture and object placement, movement patterns, and design decisions — shape the experiences of birthing people and hospital staff.
The expected impact of the workshops is that midwifery students develop a deeper understanding of the socio-spatial conditions of childbirth and apply this insight in practice, supporting better experiences for both staff and birthing people.
Four workshops delivered in spring and autumn 2025 were highly successful, with strong participant feedback reporting a clearer grasp of how space and place influence interaction, wellbeing and care. Students also reported gaining practical insight into how their own spatial practices can enhance birthing people’s sense of control and autonomy, safety, and privacy. Further workshops planned for autumn 2026 will extend the reach and embed this impact with additional cohorts.
Speaking about the workshops, Dr Clossick said: “I had a great day at Kings College London talking with nursing and midwifery students about space, power and healthcare… Students rearranged the furniture to create different scenarios: the clinician standing over the bed; sitting at eye level; the “patient” upright; the partner pushed to the edge of the room; the partner close and protective. We ran three quick scenes and paused after each one to ask: who felt powerful? Who felt ignored? Who could speak? We often talk about care as relational and the room is part of that relationship. Thanks to the students for being willing to experiment, and to King’s for making space for this kind of conversation.”
One 3rd year midwifery student who participated in a 2025 workshop said: “I think I'm going to go forward thinking more about how I can make labour ward rooms more their space as well. Because sometimes when you're there, in the moment, you're just doing, you know, work. But then when you hear the feedback and you're like, oh, they did this and it made me feel this way, then you realise you can actually make those adjustments for that woman.”