Posted on

What next?

What next?

Woman looks at pregnancy test with man Once you know that you’re pregnant, you can complete a self-referral form for maternity care. You can do this without seeing your GP, if your maternity unit is already set up to do this – simply choose your maternity unit in the app and follow the self-referral link. If there is no self-referral link, speak to your GP surgery who will help you start your maternity care. It is important to have an appointment with your GP if:
  • you have any medical conditions or you are taking any regular medications. Please do not stop or change any prescribed medications without medical advice from your GP
  • your pregnancy wasn’t planned, or you are unsure about carrying it on and what your options might be.
Your pregnancy care (known as antenatal care) will consist of a set of scheduled appointments with a midwife and/or specialised doctor (if needed). If you are thinking about a homebirth you will need to book your pregnancy at your closest maternity unit so that local midwives can provide you with care in labour at your home.
Explore maternity units
Finding out you’re pregnant Am I pregnant? Pregnant and don’t know what to do? AIMS: Campaigning for a better birth for all Your rights in childbirth
Posted on

Feedback on Healthier North West London’s website

Feedback on Healthier North West London’s website

Women and their families are encouraged to provide feedback via our purpose-built feedback website. This information collected on this website is taken directly back to our hospitals to ensure continued improvement of services. North West London has a local maternity system board which meets once a month to work together in driving maternity improvements across the sector. Visit the Healthier North West London website to find out more about how you can get involved in health improvement projects in your area.
Feedback on NHS maternity care in North West London Healthier North West London
Posted on

Feedback on your maternity services provider

Feedback on your maternity services provider

Each Trust has its own Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). Use this service if you would like to speak to someone about your care. PALS can also connect women and their families with the appropriate professionals and services to answer their concerns and questions.
Portal: Feedback on your maternity services provider in your region
Posted on

Research

Research

Reproductive health includes clinical trials through all stages of women’s lives from preconception, pregnancy, birth and later life, developing better treatments, care and quality of life for women and their babies. By taking part, healthy women, or women with a condition, contribute to improving healthcare and provide researchers with new information. Some women gain reassurance from being more closely and regularly monitored, as required by some studies. Recent evidence suggests that pregnant women who participate in clinical trials experience better outcomes than those outside of trials (See here). Be part of the conversation and ask about clinical research in your maternity unit.
Portal: Research in your region
Posted on

Volunteer services

Volunteer services

Volunteers help to improve and enhance the patient and service user experience, complementing the work of employed maternity staff in
LMS title
. Volunteers come from all walks of life and represent the diversity of the communities we serve. If you are interested in getting involved, please visit your local maternity unit’s website.
CORONAVIRUS: HOW TO GET VOLUNTEER HELP
Portal: Volunteer services in your region
Posted on

Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP)

Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP)

Each NHS trust has a Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) group. They are made up of a team of women, their families, commissioners, providers, doctors and midwives who work together to ensure women’s voices are heard and are at the heart of improving maternity services. All MVPs are led by women just like you – they have had a baby and used our maternity services. A key purpose of each MVP is to ensure every woman using our services has an opportunity to have her voice heard. Your local MVP would be very keen to hear about your maternity experiences good or bad. Here are the email addresses and links for each of the MVPs:
Portal: MVP email addresses and links for your region
Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP)