What are Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships?
Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships (MNVPs) make sure that the voices of local people are heard in maternity and neonatal care.
We listen to people’s experiences and use this feedback to help improve services in Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield.
Who is a part of the MNVPs?
Our MNVPs are led by two women: Amy Libell and Jenny Madley.
Amy and Jenny work with parents and service users, alongside maternity and neonatal staff, commissioners, councils, voluntary organisations, and other partners to help improve maternity and neonatal care in our area.
What do the MNVPs do?
Our main priority is to listen to as many women and parents as possible about their experiences of pregnancy, birth, and the time after their baby is born.
We gather this feedback in different ways. Such as attending community events, speaking with people in hospitals, running surveys, and listening through social media and local community groups.
We share this feedback without names or personal details at hospital meetings and with staff who can make improvements. In recent years, people’s experiences have helped improve areas such as antenatal classes, baby feeding support, post-birth GP checks, staff training, visiting arrangements, birth choices, and how information is shared.
Locally, MNVPs have:
- Worked with Pinderfields Hospital to change the visiting policy. As a result, partners are allowed to stay overnight in the postnatal ward. Therefore, enabling them to support the mum/birthing person and enjoy uninterrupted time with their baby.
- Carried out a survey relating to the GP postnatal check. This received over 100 responses in 24 hours. This demonstrates the importance of these checks in supporting new parents as well as checking the health of a baby.
- Supported hospital trusts in providing a choice of place of birth for local service users. Including, the re-opening of Bronte Birth Centre in Dewsbury.
- Shared relevant case studies with a wide range of people, including student midwives, matrons, senior leaders, and obstetric consultants.
- Increased the availability of antenatal education, in a range of formats.
How do I get involved?
There are a number of different ways to get involved with the MNVP, you could;
- Share your experience of pregnancy/birth/postnatal with the MNVP
- Attend the MNVP meetings which take place around 4 times a year
- Respond to MNVP surveys
- Attend MNVP events, such as, review visits of maternity and neonatal areas at the hospital which is called a ’15 Steps Visit’
If you are interested in getting involved or you simply want to share your story, please contact Amy and she will get back to you with more information.
Amy’s email is amy.libell@CKWMNVP.co.uk
Jenny’s email is jenny.madley@CKWMNVP.co.uk