On the day the latest MBRRACE UK perinatal report is released, timely publication on The BMJ of our editorial on achieving equitable maternal health services in the UK - a lifelong approach is needed for safe and personalised care bmj.com/content/389/bm…

With serious flooding in NSW, think not just of pregnant women and families with babies and toddlers, but also midwives and doctors. Babies wait for no one and hese dedicated health providers go to extraordinary lengths to ensure safe birth in emergencies.7news.com.au/news/nsw-flood…

Thanks to The Yorkshire Post for publishing my article with Trussell 's new stats. No child should be held back by hunger, but too many grow up in severe hardship and blights childhoods and has long term impacts on children's prospects in adulthood. yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/n…

Rob rightly says that ‘safety’ means different things to different people. I’d suggest a safe birth should include that mother & baby are thriving one year post-birth. There’s no safety for any baby whose mum dies before they can remember her.

This #Red4Research day is an opportunity to recognise the vital role midwives have in research. Your contribution ensures we continue to improve the quality of maternity and neonatal care, and the experiences and outcomes for women, babies, and their families.

Powerful messages about importance of listening to women. #RCOG2025

A national maternity investigation has been launched — and Health Secretary Wes Streeting has publicly acknowledged what so many of us have been raising for years: systemic failure, trauma, and ongoing inequalities in care. The government’s own press release states that Black

It’s absolutely essential inquiry not only includes postnatal care of mother & baby but makes this key priority. Of maternal deaths, 80-90% occur postnatally, leaving 100s of motherless children each year. Care is sparse & fragmented even for 6 weeks post birth Royal College of Midwives 💙

ps: did you see focus on enhanced Midwifery Continuity of Carer yesterday? Bravo! AIMS has asked for decades: without a relational model care, how can maternity services truly listen & hear, how can they be safe? /end. #SafePersonalisedEquitable #ContinuityMatters

++Agree Elizabeth Duff 📣 Including postnatal care must be an essential part of the Maternity Inquiry- the level of variation in essential healthcare is getting worse‼️with weak system levers to ensure all women & babies get high quality care-this cannot be left to chance 👇

Continuity through to postnatal; properly co-ordinated care when different agencies needed; real value given to community services: these are part of the SOLUTION. Wes Streeting please read and act. It’ll be a huge error to only focus on labour ward, though action needed here too

Regarding the planned NHS maternity inquiry, may I respectfully draw attention to this international call for better postnatal care? Please read, any who are involved ⁦Kate Brintworth⁩ ⁦Gill Walton⁩ ⁦Ranee Thakar⁩ ⁦Alison Wright 💙⁩ revolution.postnatalsupportnetwork.com/postpartum-cal…

Disappointing to see closure of (presumably) community service making pregnant women travel further for appointments. Some can’t afford fares; some cannot take more time off work or caring for family. Inequality gap widened again. Not much to ‘elevate & celebate’ [sic] here.

In maternity & elsewhere, emphasis on community options is right. But we’ve heard this for 30+ years now & every time budgets tighten, it’s the local service that’s lost because it doesn’t hit the headlines in the same way. Community services need long-term, sustained investment.

Helpful summary; modestly encouraging news. I’d like to see a specific Department of Health and Social Care commitment that postnatal care is wholly redesigned giving new families a coherent pathway of support, commissioned & provided by one authority, not the present 3 or 4. It would save mothers’ lives.

Elizabeth Duff Department of Health and Social Care Good point Elizabeth Duff The plan sets out a commitment to provide “greater clarity about roles & purpose in the system” - we hope that this will mean much clearer AN &PN healthcare for all families (especially the role of HVs where local variation is causing disparities)🤞

A delightful visit to ⁦West Norwood Cemetery⁩ where residents include William Gilbart of Westminster Bank (his 19C banking textbooks still used); fighter against racism Joe Hunte; sailor John Wimble & beautiful nautical stoneworks; Henry Tate’s vault with just a hint of sugar-cube!

Take a look at our fantastic new Fellows programme launched this week “The Dame Elizabeth Fradd Leadership Programme”📣 A great opportunity to have your health visiting achievements recognised & further develop your leadership skills to lead the profession now & in the future 👇

💉 The Impact of Nurse–Patient Ratios on ICU Outcomes Adequate nurse staffing in ICUs isn’t just a numbers game,it’s life-saving care in action. 🔗 doi.org/10.1111/nicc.7… #CriticalCare #Nursing #PatientSafety #ICU #HealthcareQuality

Unusual, but powerful, when Government MPs and Opposition MPs unite in the common cause of #WASPI compensation. It’s just the The Labour Party front bench who need to recognise that the compensation they promised in opposition must be paid.