Today has seen the publication of the Nottingham Ockenden Maternity Review — the largest maternity review in the history of the NHS. It is a difficult read. Please take care of yourself if you choose to read the report , or follow the media coverage around it. One of the themes is women and birthing people saying that they did not feel listened to — at all stages of pregnancy, birth and beyond. Your voice matters. Your experience matters. Listening must be at the centre of ma

We have added new resources to the Personalised Care Toolkit. This toolkit has been designed to help you: understand your choices during pregnancy feel more confident in your care have a stronger voice in decisions about you and your baby Personalised care means your needs and wishes are at the centre of your care. It means doctors and midwives listen to you and support your choices. You always have a choice about your care. What’s already available? You can find: Videos abou

Two survey results have recently been released. The national CQC Women’s Maternity Experience Survey free text comments analysis has just been published. It gathered feedback from patients about their experiences of care provided before giving birth (antenatal care), during labour and delivery, and up to 8 weeks following birth (postnatal care) You can read the report here: The National and Local Trust survey looked at the experiences of pregnant women and new mothers who use

The next Maternity Voices Meeting for West Cumbria is Tuesday 26th May 2026 12:30-2:30pm On Microsoft Teams Use the QR code below for the link to join We would love you to join us

You can read the original post on Cumbria Crack here: Brunton Park to host men’s mental health awareness tournament – cumbriacrack.com Carlisle United Community Sports Trust will host a men’s mental health awareness tournament this month. The eight-team tournament, on Friday May 29 at Brunton Park, will bring together groups from across the city to raise the profile of men’s mental health support in the community. The tournament will be available to watch from the stands for

Cumberland Sanctuary Network have developed a directory of services for people seeking sanctuary in the Cumberland area. From Cumberland Sanctuary Network website New Directory of Services for People Seeking Sanctuary in Cumberland We are delighted to announce that our new Directory of Services is now live. This has been compiled with funding from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and the National Lottery, to whom we are very grateful. Many thanks also to all the volunt

Baroness Amos is asking women and families across England to share their experiences of maternity and neonatal care through a public Call for Evidence. Responses to the Call for Evidence will be used to inform the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation’s findings and recommendations. The Call for Evidence is open for 8 weeks from 20 January until 17 March 2026. There are two Call for Evidence surveys available: One for women and people who have been pregnant to share t

Do have learning disabilities and are pregnant or have a child aged 3 or younger. If so, you are being invited to take part in this survey to share your experiences. All details can be found on the posters below and you can express your interest in taking part using this link:

West Cumbria Baby Bank plays a vital role in supporting families across Cumberland, offering practical help and dignity at one of the most vulnerable moments in a parent’s life. The service connects generous community donations with families referred by midwives, health visitors, and other professionals, ensuring babies get the safe, essential start they deserve. 🌼 A Community Lifeline for Local Families Established in January 2021 , West Cumbria Baby Bank was created to h