We are here to listen

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 maternity care.

Listening is at the heart of the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP). Our role is to ensure that the experiences, views and voices of women, birthing people and families — including dads and partners — help shape the planning and delivery of maternity services.

This is especially important for those who may face additional barriers or inequalities — including people living in poverty, disabled people, neurodivergent people, refugees and asylum seekers, people who find reading or speaking English difficult, LGBTQ+ families, and people from global majority communities.

If you would like to get involved with MNVP work locally please contact:

carlisleeden@matvoices.uk or westcumbria@matvoices.uk

🫄If you are pregnant and feeling worried or unsettled, please speak to your community midwife, who can offer support, reassurance and help you access the right care.

👩‍🍼 If you are living with birth trauma or difficult experiences of maternity care, support is available. You can speak to your GP, health visitor or maternity team for further support. You may find the following organisations helpful:

• Birth Trauma Association – support and information for people affected by traumatic birth experiences

• Make Birth Better – peer support and resources for processing birth trauma

• PANDAS Foundation – support for parents experiencing mental health difficulties during pregnancy and after birth

• NHS Talking Therapies – support for anxiety, trauma and emotional wellbeing.

Ockenden review into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust: final report - GOV.UK