Talk

Hello Simon

I'm Rowan, the Head of Policy and Campaigns here at Mumsnet.

We at MNHQ wanted to ask you about our campaign for Better Postnatal Care. Our aim is to make sure that every new mother in the UK receives good postnatal care: things like well-staffed postnatal wards where women are given the care and clinical attention they need, well-trained and prompt infant feeding support, good mental healthcare and support for wounds and long-term health issues caused by pregnancy and birth.

For many years now, we've read discussions on Mumsnet in which women talk about the rocky state of postnatal care in some parts of the NHS. Some Mumsnet users have shared really distressing accounts of being left in pain on postnatal wards, or being hungry and thirsty and unable to get staff attention, of not being able to access infant feeding support, and dismissive attitudes among some HCPs when it comes to painful birth injuries (sometimes many months or even years after birth).

We took part in NHS England's maternity review a couple of years ago, and we're following the maternity transformation programmes closely - but what our users would like to see is the same focused thinking and resources being applied to postnatal care.

Can you help us to address this issue? We're already in touch with some very impressive ward managers and maternity workers who are doing their utmost to change things in their trusts, but we'd love to know how we can get NHS England on board.

Thanks
MNHQ

I'd start with a big thank you to Mumsnet for your advocacy and campaigning on this, and related, issues. Part of the answer here, as you say, is the support that new mums get before coming home with their baby and I'd like to invite you to work directly with us and our national team on this.[/quote]

That's brilliant - we'd love to work directly with you and your team on Better Postnatal Care. Thanks and we'll be in touch!