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Maternity Voices Partnership

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WQ.254/2019

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY L.M.C. DOUBLET OF ST. SAVIOUR

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 18th JUNE 2019

Question

Further to his response to Written Question 161/2019, will the Minister advise whether the Maternity Voices Partnership has been set up or, if not, when it will be set up; and will he explain what terms of reference are to be  used by the  Partnership and  what outcomes it is predicted  will arise from the Partnership's work?

Answer

The interim Head of Midwifery plans to introduce a Maternity Voices Partnership Group in the next few months once the Women Children and Family Care Group within Health and Community Services is fully established.

The terms of reference of the Maternity Voices Partnership Group are yet to be determined. However, as the purpose of this Group will be to contribute to the development of the island's maternity services, the terms of reference are likely to reflect those of the previous very successful Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC).

The MSLC's membership was made up of midwifery staff, a representative of the National Childbirth Trust, a member of the public and an Obstetric Consultant. Issues discussed at these meetings included breast feeding (which contributed towards the Breast Feeding Initiative), the topic of do not disturb' within the Special Baby Care Unit (which is now an established part of the handover in that area) and the need for women and partners after a birth to have debriefs' (which has resulted in successful listening clinics' being set up).

It is envisaged that the new Group's membership will be similar to that of the previous committee, but including more service users. The Group will be more involved in implementing the developments in maternity care in general and in major projects such as the planned refurbishment of the maternity unit.