Share your thoughts and experiences of maternity care in Leeds

We believe that the only way we can keep improving maternity care in Leeds is by working together. The maternity population board brings together senior leaders from across Leeds to support staff and improve care for people using maternity services, their families and carers. The board has representatives from across the city including; GPs, hospitals, social care, care homes and the voluntary sector. Together they decide how we can best spend our budget in Leeds to improve care for people using maternity services.

Information and background
Over the last year, people planning health and care services in Leeds have worked with providers and the third sector to produce a set of draft outcomes for maternity. These outcomes explain what we want to achieve to improve the lives of people using maternity services, their families and carers. 

1. People receive personalised maternity care safely
2. Families and babies are emotionally healthy
3. Families and babies are physically healthy
4. People feel prepared for parenthood

• Personalised Care
  • Continuity of care is key (not repeating same story and easing stress and anxiety).
  • Positive environments are important (home from home feel).
  • Having the same midwife or team from start to finish is important.
• Perinatal Mental Health
  • Peer support can be invaluable.
  • Better signposting to peer support is required.
  • More information around bereavement services is needed.
  • More personalised care can make a positive impact (especially for mums with learning difficulties).
  • Taboo / stigma felt, especially in the Bangladeshi community.
  • Not enough signposting / counselling support.
  • “Think family” around mental health, so partners and dads are not forgotten about.
  • Lack of mental health acknowledgment or support by some health professionals.
  • Families felt that they were not given advice or information relating to their mental health.
  • Quality of mental health support / information needs to be better.
• Reducing Health Inequalities
  • Utilise peer support more within diverse communities.
  • Poor communication / understanding negatively affects people with learning disabilities.
  • Pictures and apps work well for people with learning disabilities, rather than words.
  • Staff training in the needs of asylum seekers / refugees.
  • Better cultural awareness needed by staff, and tailored breastfeeding support.
  • Language barrier for people whose first language is not English.  
• Preparation for Parenthood
  • Teaching parenting skills in different settings, e.g., in schools, would help to prepare parents-to-be.
  • Involve dads / partners more and ask what they need.
  • Young mums do not like jargon.
  • Breastfeeding support targeted at different groups; peer support very important.
• Many women are still positive about their maternity care - but the pandemic impacted on choice and involvement and increased concerns about postnatal support (Care Quality Commission 2022).

• People from the LGBTQIA+ communities
• Gypsy and Travellers
• Women with physical disabilities and sensory impairments