A new role being piloted in Somerset is now available to specifically support women and families following the Immediate and Essential Actions identified in the Ockenden review into maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust.
Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocates help ensure the voices of women and families are listened to, heard, and acted upon by their maternity and neonatal care providers when they have experienced an adverse outcome any time during their maternity and neonatal care. This may have been a recent experience or happened some time ago.
An adverse outcome is a serious incident or an outcome that has required or may require further formal investigation such as:
- A baby has died before they were born, after 24 weeks of pregnancy
- A baby has died in the days or weeks after they were born, up to 28 days
- The mother or birthing person has died
- The mother or birthing person had an unexpected or unplanned removal of their womb (within 6 weeks of giving birth)
- The mother or birthing person had an unexpected time of care in the critical or intensive care unit
- The baby was diagnosed with a brain injury or a brain injury was suspected.
Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocates can support women, service users and families by providing advocacy. The Advocates can help them understand the maternity and neonatal healthcare system, attend follow up meetings where concerns about maternity or neonatal care are being discussed and support them through the investigation and complaints processes.
One Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate, Jane Innes, will serve the population of Somerset in the area covered by NHS Somerset.
Jane has over 30 years’ experience of the NHS. Jane started her career as a nurse, and then retrained as solicitor working solely in healthcare law.
“I have experience of dealing with highly complex and challenging situations. I know and understand the NHS, voluntary and charity sectors.
I believe in individualised, safe, kind, and compassionate care. I can help and support you with any questions and concerns regarding your care; to feel listened to, and heard, by those who provided that care, and to support through any investigations or processes that may be required, and/or signpost you to other available support services”.
Dr Bernie Marden, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Somerset said “While adverse outcomes in maternity care, such as brain injury or death for a mother or child, are very rare, it is vital that families are supported through these particularly difficult times, and that they are listened to and heard by their maternity and neonatal care providers.
“This new pilot led by NHS England will provide an advocate who can help families navigate the processes and signpost them to the best support available, and we are pleased to be one of the first areas in the country to have this important bespoke role in our community.”
This role was co-produced by NHS England working alongside maternity and neonatal service users and staff.
A maternity and neonatal independent senior advocate is independent from NHS Trusts, and reports to the local Integrated Care Board, who are responsible for the provision of all care in your area.
If you would like support from a maternity and neonatal independent senior advocate in Somerset, you do not need to be sure if there were mistakes or negligence in the mother or baby’s care to ask for support. There is no charge for any support given, and interpreters can be made available if you need one.
You can contact a Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate by calling, emailing, writing to them or via the dedicated website. You can also ask a member of staff from your hospital Trust, GP, or Integrated Care Board to get the Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate to contact you.
Contact Jane Innes, Maternity & Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate for Somerset by:
Phone: 07554 114491
Email:somicb.mnisa@nhs.net
Website: Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate – NHS Somerset ICB
