Women and families who want to use their experiences to help shape Maternity and Neonatal services throughout the Black Country, are being invited to share their views in a series of meetings running throughout September.

Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnerships were set up to bring people together to provide feedback across the Black Country Local Maternity and Neonatal System (BCLMNS).

As well as service users, Maternity professionals including Midwives and Doctors, attend regular meetings on a host of relevant topics, prompted by feedback from women and families.

These collaborative discussions have often led to changes being made.

The MNVPs across the Black Country are facilitated by Gateway Family Services and Nadia Griffin is their co-ordinator.

She said: “Following the summer break we’re getting back into our stride in September and have meetings across all Trust areas.

“We want to encourage more women and families to join us as they play a vital role in the work we do to bring about change and improvement and our efforts to enhance people’s experience. We often share surveys and questionnaires, sometimes hold listening events on specific issues such as bereavement and also enjoy the informal, social element of these get-togethers.”

Nadia explained that another important activity is the “Fifteen Steps” initiative in which service users visit Maternity and Neonatal departments across Black Country hospitals.

“This is how we gain a much better understanding of first impressions as well as any other factors that affect the services we provide,” she said. “As a result of invaluable input, we have been able to see improvements made for the benefit of all.”

Upcoming MNVP meetings are as follows but people are welcome at any session, as long as they have accessed care across the Black Country:

Wolverhampton – Thursday 12 September, 10am-12noon, Cannock Chase Family Hub. Link here https://bit.ly/WolvesMNVPMeetingSept2024

The 15 steps event will be at New Cross Hospital on Monday 16 September. To be a part of this please go to https://bit.ly/RWT-15-Steps

Dudley – Wednesday 18 September, 9.30am-11.30am, Mary Stevens Park Activity Hub, Stourbridge, https://bit.ly/DudleyMNVPSept24

Walsall – Saturday 21 September, 10am-1pm, Baby Sensory Studio, Aldridge, https://bit.ly/WalsallMNVPMeetingSept2024

Sandwell and West Birmingham – Wednesday 25 September, 9.45am-12noon, Yemeni Community Association, Greets Green, West Bromwich, https://bit.ly/SWB-MNVPMeetingSept24