You may have seen recent media coverage about the national Independent Maternity and Neonatal Investigation led by Baroness Amos and the Independent Review of Maternity Services led by Donna Ockenden.
These reports contain deeply difficult accounts from women, babies and families who experienced harm and loss. We want to acknowledge the courage of those families who shared their experiences and helped bring about important learning for maternity services across England.
We recognise that reading or hearing about these reports may cause anxiety, particularly if you are currently pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or receiving care from our services.
We want to reassure you that the safety, wellbeing and experience of women, babies and families remain our highest priorities.
While these reviews examined services elsewhere in England, we are carefully considering the findings and recommendations and the learning they offer for maternity services across the NHS. We welcome opportunities to learn and improve, and we will continue to review our own services in partnership with women, families, staff and our Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership.
We know that safe care is about more than clinical outcomes. It is about being treated with kindness, dignity and respect, being listened to, being involved in decisions about your care, and feeling confident that your concerns will be heard and acted upon. The themes highlighted in these national reviews reinforce the importance of these principles, and we remain committed to learning, improving and working in partnership with women and families to provide the highest quality maternity care possible.
Across our maternity services we continue to focus on:
- Listening to women and families and acting on feedback.
- Providing personalised care and supporting informed choice.
- Strengthening safety, quality and governance.
- Working to reduce inequalities in maternity outcomes and experiences.
- Supporting and developing our maternity and neonatal workforce.
- Learning from incidents, feedback and national reviews to drive continuous improvement.
If you are currently pregnant or using our maternity services, we want to reassure you that our teams are here for you. If you have concerns, questions or feel that something is not right, please speak to your midwife, doctor or maternity team. Your concerns will be taken seriously and your voice matters.
We remain committed to providing safe, compassionate and high-quality care for every woman, baby and family who uses our services.
Statement from Professor Steve Hams, Chief Nursing and Improvement Officer
“The stories shared through the Amos and Ockenden reviews are powerful and, for many families and staff, deeply upsetting. We recognise the courage of the women and families who have shared their experiences in the hope that others might receive safer care in the future.
We know that reading or hearing about these reports may cause concern, particularly for women and families who are currently pregnant or using maternity services.
For women currently using our services, my message is simple: we are here for you. If you have concerns, questions or feel something is not right, please tell us. Your voice matters, and you will be listened to.
We know that safe care is about more than clinical outcomes. It is about being treated with kindness, dignity and respect, being involved in decisions about your care, and feeling confident that your concerns will be heard and acted upon. The themes highlighted in these national reviews reinforce the importance of these principles.
We are carefully reviewing the findings and recommendations from both reports and will continue to work alongside women, families, our staff and partners to strengthen the safety, quality and experience of maternity care.
Safe, compassionate and personalised care, centred on the needs of women and families, remains at the heart of everything we do.”
A message from Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership:
“Following the Ockenden and Amos reports, we recognise that these findings may be difficult for many people to read, particularly those with personal experiences of maternity or neonatal care, people who are pregnant, and also staff.
These reviews highlight the importance of listening, learning and working together to improve maternity care We recognise the dedication of staff and the need to support them so they can provide compassionate, personalised care.
As your Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP), we are here to ensure the voices of women, birthing people, babies, and families are heard and help shape improvements in maternity care.
If you would like to share your thoughts, experiences, or ideas about how maternity care can continue to improve, we are here to listen.
Contact BNSSG MNVP at info@bnssgmnvp.co.uk or complete our Have Your Say form.
All feedback is anonymous and helps shape local maternity and neonatal services.”