Thousands of pregnant women have confronted mental health issues before they become more serious thanks to a thriving perinatal mental health service in Devon. Since it began five years ago the ten-strong Devon and Torbay Perinatal Health Team has identified, supported or signposted thousands of women who needed mental health support. Now, all of the […]

Baroness Julia Cumberlege is to lead a major review of maternity services which is set to modernise care for women and babies across the country, NHS England announced today. The programme of work will assess current maternity care provision and consider how services should be developed to meet the changing needs of women and babies. […]

The Health Secretary today asked Sir Bruce Keogh to carry out a review of codes of practice for health professionals The move by Jeremy Hunt came as a report into the failings over the deaths of mothers and babies at Morecambe Bay was made public. The review to be carried out by Sir Bruce, NHS […]

We are deeply saddened by the tragic and inexcusable events described in this report. They should never have happened, and they must never be allowed to happen again. Our fundamental purpose is to ensure that every NHS patient is offered safe, honest and compassionate care, but the report is unequivocal that the care provided to […]

NHS England has today announced details of a major review of the commissioning of NHS maternity services, as promised in the NHS Five Year Forward View. The review will assess current maternity care provision and consider how services should be developed to meet the changing needs of women and babies. Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of […]

Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England have issued  a patient safety alert (17 June) temporarily advising against the use in the home of birthing pools with built-in heaters and recirculation pumps, potentially filled up to two weeks in advance of the birth. This follows a single case of Legionnaires’ disease identified in a baby […]

Jenny Hicken, a Network Delivery Facilitator for NHS England’s Northern Clinical Networks and Senate on Tyneside, looks at why the NHS needs the voluntary sector: Our team has recently received some training on the benefits of Patient and Public Involvement, and the role of the voluntary sector in supporting the work of the NHS. With […]

The first results of the Friends and Family Test (FFT) for NHS-funded maternity services across England have today been published alongside the latest FFT results for A&E and Inpatient departments. The data comprises feedback from thousands of pregnant women and mothers of new-born babies who, since October 1, 2013, have been giving their views on […]

Pregnant women and mothers are now having their say about NHS-funded maternity services. As it forges ahead with its commitment to transparency, driving up standards and listening to the voice of patients, NHS England has this week begun asking the Friends and Family Test (FFT) question in every NHS maternity unit across the country. The […]

NHS England has published guidance on the NHS National Friends and Family Test (FFT) for maternity services. Alongside this guidance please read the note of clarification about women who have experienced a bereavement (document now only available on our archived website here). The guidance outlines the background and requirements for implementing, reporting and publishing the […]