Maternity Matters - Wessex Voices report into experiences of maternity services in Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth

Over 1200 women share their experience of local maternity services across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (including Southampton and Portsmouth)
 
More than 1200 women and their birthing partners have shared their experience of the maternity system across Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth.
 
The views were collected by Wessex Voices (a collaboration between local Healthwatch and NHS England) who were asked to carry out a survey, to understand the experiences of mothers and birth partners using maternity services in the last year.

Healthwatch Hampshire, on behalf of Wessex Voices, worked with local maternity and Health Visiting services to gather feedback that will help commissioners and maternity service providers ensure that women have an informed and empowered choice through their pregnancy and birth.
 
The survey is in support of the national Better Births report recommendations;  the report of the National Maternity Review that was published in February 2016 and set out a clear vision: for maternity services across England.
 
The 1200 views were collected from nine child development clinics across the region and through social media.   The views were summarised into the following nine key areas:

• Make time - Provide clear and easy access to information and support at all times
• Ensure that women have access to consistent services at times that suit them
• Clear communication for referrals - Particularly for referrals related to raised BMI
• Manage expectations – Ensure all communication is open and transparent, particularly when discussing birth plans and options
• Improve diagnosis and treatment of tongue tie – Provide further training for staff in this area
• Free antenatal classes for all – Ensure that everyone that would like to access antenatal classes has the ability to do so
• Improve breastfeeding support – Provide specialist support at easy to access locations across the region
• Improve communication – Use consistent and easy to understand terminology and make sure there is easy to access appropriate information

 
Healthwatch Hampshire’s Engagement Officer, Rachel Bullock said: “We are really pleased to have reached so many people willing to discuss their experiences of local maternity services. This range of views provides a valuable resource that will help to improve the maternity experience for future mums and their families”.

For a link to the report and more information visit:
https://www.wessexvoices.org/uploads/9/2/1/6/92161062/maternity_matters_report_2017.pdf and http://www.healthwatchhampshire.co.uk/maternity 

For more information: Sue Newell, Wessex Voices Project Manager
Direct Line: 07595 424198
Email: sue.newell@helpandcare.org.uk