Improving Equity in Maternity Services

How do we identify and tackle inequalities in maternity outcomes in an inclusive way?

There is lots of evidence internationally that women from Global Majority backgrounds are more likely to experience a variety of poorer outcomes across  maternity services (and this is also the situation in City and Hackney), such as stillbirth or early neonatal death, premature delivery and small for gestational age babies. 

The MATCH project brought together teams from the Homerton maternity services, statutory partners within social care and public health, voluntary sector services working in maternity settings, and residents & patients from the Maternity Neonatal Voice Partnership (MNVP), parent groups to understand perspectives across the system. A series of workshops identified the priority areas for change:

  • Drop in information hubs for women antenatal and postnatal (information, support, connect).
  • Community doulas.
  • Compulsory cultural awareness training co-produced with community and staff.
  • More translation available within maternity units.
  • More information at initial referral.

Making change

In March 2024 the MATCH Fund invited applications from eligible groups participating in the process to deliver projects in the priority areas for change that meet our programme impact aims. Two applications from the Homerton Maternity were funded for delivery from June 2024 to June 2025:

Birth Bridge

The Birth Bridge Project will establish a Community Doula service by providing training for 32 local people to become qualified Doulas to work alongside Midwives at the Homerton Hospital. Community Doulas will have a focus on representing and supporting women from Global Majority communities by providing access to high quality, culturally tailored doula support during their maternity experience. 

How to get involved

Information and recruitment sessions in 2024 

Homerton Midwives leading the project will be running 3 information and recruitment sessions across 2024 and early 2025 for anyone looking to learn more or get involved. Join us for the first session on 14 August 2024 at Morningside Community Centre to hear more about what’s involved, who this opportunity might suit and how to sign up. Key details below:

Recruitment event 1:

When: 14 August 2024 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Where: Morningside Community Centre21Cresset Rd, London E9 6SJ

RSVP: Email Kyiakyia.omoshebi@nhs.net or Georgia georgia.tierney@nhs.net to RSVP or any ask questions about the event

Other information: Refreshments provided and children welcomed.

Multilingual Maternity

The Multilingual Maternity project will enable the Homerton Maternity Service to translate it’s key digital patient information documents into the top 6 languages of patients in the Maternity Service, ensuring that staff have the tools to provide critical health information about the Maternity service to women in both digital and print format at point of contact. 

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