Our Impact: Spotlight on Maternity Care Experiences
Earlier this year, we published our report on women’s experiences using maternity care services in South East London. We would like to thank the women and birthing people who shared their stories.
Why we did this project
Women from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds, disadvantaged communities, and those with disabilities often face:
-
Poorer health outcomes.
-
Fewer positive experiences with care.
- Our goal was to listen to their stories and understand their healthcare experiences.
Who we spoke to
Partnering with local Black, Asian and ethnic minority mothers’ groups, refugee and disability organisations and organisations supporting parents in deprived areas, we heard the stories of 55 women.
What did people tell us about their care
-
Women spoke highly of health professionals who showed sensitivity, listened to them, and were responsive to individual needs and circumstances.
-
Lack of continuity and person-centred care made many women feel anxious, alone, and processed.
-
Care communication was often poor and accessible information about the maternity journey was difficult to obtain, especially for those whose first language was not English. This left women feeling excluded from decisions about their care.
What difference did their feedback make
SEL LMNS have introduced:
-
Personalised care conversations and pocket guides for staff.
-
Accessible parent education sessions in six languages.
-
A series of workshops taking practical solutions forward for improving access to information and care and involving local groups and stakeholders.
"This is part of a significant piece of work involving voluntary sector organisations and will provide a bank of feedback specific to SEL and will support our work to increase equity moving forward. The results of this work will feed into the LMNS equality and equity action plan."
