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Childbirth

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Maternity Liason committe

10 replies

barbamama · 26/01/2008 20:59

How do you get on one?

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Lulumama · 26/01/2008 22:42

I was invited on it by another person on it, as a user rep . I am now chair if you don't know anyone on it, contact head of midwifery and see about attending..

whomovedmychocolate · 26/01/2008 22:43

They'll bite your hand off if you are an 'average punter'.

barbamama · 26/01/2008 22:52

I am and I will, thanks - are they per hospital or per health trust do you know. Would you recommend it Lulumama. One of my ny resolutions was to stop bitching about how crap one of my experiences of childbirth on the NHS was and what a state maternity services are in and do something constructive about it - this was the obvious thing I could think of.

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Lulumama · 27/01/2008 10:23

i think it is a very positive way to get your views across, and to hopefully improve and change things for other women in the area. it is certainly a step in the right direction

Sabire · 27/01/2008 18:32

Be warned though - it can be a very frustrating experience....

I've sat on one for the past two years. I don't attend all the meetings - they hold them at stupid times when it's hard for me to come, so unless I'm feelin flush and can afford to pay a childminder, I don't go, but I try to keep abreast of new developments.

When I do attend I sometimes feel as though people see me as a 'nuisance'. They have an agenda to get through - lots of mind numbingly boring stuff to do with the way maternity services are administrated and monitored, rather than policy issues.

And when stuff comes up that I CAN make a contribution to - well sometimes it's intimidating to put your view across as just a mum and a service user. I'm thinking now about the day I raised the issue of what women are told - or rather not told - about homebirth at their booking visit when place of birth issues arise - looked up to see the two GPs, the obstetrician and the paediatrician who also sit on the committee all trying their best not to allow their eyes to roll into the backs of their heads. Then the paediatrician told me that the RCP's stance on homebirth was that it wasn't recommended unless a full paediatric flying squad are on standby for every birth........

BUT all that said - pleeeeease do it. They so need to have a user input into these things.

Contact the head of midwifery or PALS at the hospital (patient liaison service) who should be able to do it.

Sabire · 27/01/2008 18:33

Sorry - meant to say 'who should be able to point you in the right direction'.

barbamama · 27/01/2008 19:25

Thanks Sabire - useful forewarning. Luckily I am quite forthright and used to holding my own with patronising doctors, I'll give it a go and see how I get on ....

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morocco · 29/01/2008 15:49

as sabire says, it can be frustrating but worth doing, if pos, try to meet with other user reps to gain confidence/plot secret agenda together. a user rep should ideally be the chair, and funding might well be available for childcare. there are a few websites as well, try www.mslc.org.uk and a yahoo group I'll try and link to later on

morocco · 29/01/2008 15:50

lulumama, are you on the yahoo group? oooh, maybe we have chatted on there in almost rl

barbamama · 29/01/2008 15:56

thank you for the website that is very interesting. well i don't know about bite my hand off - was down at local hospital today and went to head mw's office to volunteer my services and was met with a pretty cool recption - "did you deliver here?, there are a few spaces for lay people I suppose, leave your details and we'll get back to you". We'll see ...... Is there some sort of secret handshake - they did look at me very suspiciously. I suppose they are wary of pissed off mothers that have had horrendous experiences at their hospitals on the war path seeking revenge. That used to apply to me but not at this hopital so I don't think I'd be too stroppy ......

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