4 minute read
Our Voices Are Louder Together
Our Voices Are Louder Together by Zoë Kornfeld
Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke Maternity Voice Partnership (or MVP) is an NHS working group: a mixture of individuals uniting with the shared goal of improving local maternity services. Led by two co-chairs, myself, Zoe Kornfeld, and Meghann Horner-Smith, with Hannah Pattison as our secretary and treasurer, the group includes service users, birth workers, doulas, service commissioners, and service providers such as midwives and doctors. Working in partnership, this group of men and women, review and develop local maternity care. Our work is heavily steered by feedback from those currently experiencing this care, and we are passionate about reaching out to those groups in our community who are less likely to be ‘heard’ due to location, ethnic background, or other external factors. The MVP acts as a ‘critical friend’ to the maternity department at North West Anglian Foundation Trust which covers Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke Hospitals, by supporting and driving change, through co-production, and joined-up thinking. This means consistently holding up a mirror to those making decisions about maternity care, and asking how things can be improved.
As you may already know, Coronavirus has made a huge impact on the experience of birthing women and their families. We all have experience of the many restrictions covid-19 has had on our lives recently, and there have been many changes made to maternity services, in order to protect those using it, and those working tirelessly within it. These changes have often been difficult to make, and it will be important going forward to see what lessons have been learned, as we enter our ‘new norm’. It has been the perfect time to reflect on what works well, and what could be improved. Safety restrictions have meant many changes, including antenatal appointments via phone or video, women being asked to attend scans without their partners, Midwife Led Units being relocated. Families have also found it a challenge being unable to support each other in the usual ways during this time – no baby showers, and getting broody together over a cuppa, and many are still waiting to introduce their new bundles to their loved ones. Everyone has had to adapt, and there has, of course, been much positivity shining through, however, and the strength and resilience of women as they give birth to their babies, never ceases to amaze me. We have been proud to share lots of positive birth stories filled with care, respect, compassion, and determination, during the last few months.
It has been a very busy time over the last few months for the MVP team. We have been working hard to keep our social media channels as up to date with key information about all aspects of maternity care – keeping up to date with national guidance, as well as providing FAQs, and information straight from your local maternity team, whether that be antenatal appointments over the phone, changes to facilities, as well as providing links to postnatal support groups. We have our first online ‘Ask the Midwife’ session this week, and are always ready to welcome your feedback. If you are expecting, have recently given birth (congratulations, you are incredible!), work in maternity services, or are passionate about improving local services - please do get in touch. The more voices we have in our partnership; the louder and stronger we will be. Find us on Facebook, Twitter or send us an email at peterboroughhinchingbrookemvp@ gmail.com to join our mailing list.
When Abbie and Dan first learnt that they were to have a baby they could not have anticipated the circumstances of the birth on 27th March just four days after lockdown! While Dan was allowed at Abbies bedside for the birth he had to leave a few hours later and the family would have to wait for the welcome that they had eagerly planned. It was in the very early days of lockdown and nursing staff were not always sure of the procedure but what they lacked in this respect they made up for with an abundance of concern and care! At 8lbs and 2ozs, baby Arlo was no lightweight but Abbie was pleased to leave the hospital just 24 hours after his arrival. In spite of a traumatic start. Arlo is enjoying life with Mum and Dad closeby!
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