Agenda item

This briefing provides an oversight of the new co-created Maternity Transformation Plan. The plan details our system wide response across the Strategic Transformation Partnership (STP) footprint to the national Better Birth Recommendations and the NHS Five Year Forward View.

The Senior Commissioning Manager for Preventative Services introduced this item to the Select Committee. She explained that the plan details our system wide response across the Strategic Transformation Partnership (STP) footprint to the national Better Birth Recommendations and the NHS Five Year Forward View. She added that it also describes our vision for local maternity services to ensure that - “All women have a safe and positive birth and maternity experience, and be prepared to approach parenting with confidence.”

She informed them that all maternity services were asked to develop a Local Maternity System (LMS) across their STP footprint by October 2017. The B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire STP created such a system in April 2017 with all providers and commissioners across the maternity pathway joining together to discuss and agree operational and strategic aims and objectives.

She stated that public consultation will of course be key and that a full Engagement Plan is being developed, which will build on the work commenced by the Royal United Hospital in Bath in relation to place of birth.

She said that the MTP plan will be finalised by the end of November. She added that the STP wide Maternity Strategy and Liaison Committee (MSLC) undertook a place of birth survey earlier this year with more than 800 responses and this feedback was used during the development of the plan and will form the basis of the Engagement Strategy.

She explained that the mobilisation and implementation of the plan will be supported by a dedicated project midwife, which is being funded from national money dedicated to the development of Local Maternity Systems. This post is currently being recruited to.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson said that the Labour Group would provide a written response to the proposals in due course. She said that she was surprised that there seemed to be no reference made to pain control within the Plan and that some sections of it were not particularly true to life as babies don’t always read their birthing plan.

She spoke of how important it was to have the same midwife throughout the duration of the pregnancy.

She explained that she was aware of a local resident that had begun to give birth in Paulton Hospital but due to complications had to be transferred to the RUH. She said that the RUH staff were so busy there appeared to be no time to explain the circumstances of her transfer.

She said that further support was also required to assist with breastfeeding as in some cases this can take a number of days to be successful.

The Senior Commissioning Manager for Preventative Services thanked Councillor Jackson for her comments.

Councillor Lizzie Gladwyn commented that she hoped improvements could be sought following the Better Births Gap Analysis, in particular midwife support.

The Senior Commissioning Manager for Preventative Services said that she would bring an update on the Plan to the Select Committee in due course.

The Chair thanked her for the report on behalf of the Select Committee.