Everyone involved in maternity and neonatal services across Kent and Medway is working together in a local maternity and neonatal system to improve care for pregnant women and their families.
Local Maternity Systems were set up in 2017 following the national review of maternity services to create local improvement plans. The vision for safer, more personalised services is set out in the Better Births report.
Since then, much improvement has taken place. Women and families are increasingly having a say in new service developments through Maternity and Neonatal Voice Partnerships, and separate organisations are joining up to support safety improvements across the area. More women have access to their own digital maternity record, more university places are being created to train midwives, and more continuity teams are being introduced.
Lessons are being learned from poorer outcomes in the past, and all maternity services are working hard to follow the recommendations of the recent independent safety review (Ockenden report).
There is ongoing work to be done to ensure that all women, expectant families and babies have the best care possible. This is particularly true for groups of women facing unequal chances of a healthy pregnancy and birth, including Black and Asian women, and women from disadvantaged areas. Working together, and listening to local families, we are committed to providing the highest standards of care for all in Kent & Medway.
You can get involved through your local Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership.
