Extra funding to improve maternity care

FUNDING for extra training will make Leicester’s hospitals a safer place for women to give birth, according to trust chiefs.

University Hospitals of Leicester has been given £50,000 from the Government to ensure closer contact between mums and medics.

The overall aim is to reduce the rates of stillbirths, neonatal and maternity deaths and other adverse outcomes such as sepsis and intrapartum brain injuries.

The maternity team will use the funding on expert tuition to enhance communication between midwives, obstetricians and other health professionals to provide safe, personalised care for women and their babies. The programme also includes clinical skills enhancement and a key focus on staff resilience and compassionate culture.

Joan Morrissey, midwifery matron at Leicester’s Hospitals, appointed as ‘champion’ to lead the scheme, said: “We are delighted to have received this money to support our training. Our dedicated training team have designed an innovative programme to meet the needs of women and babies and it is important that the money is used wisely and has the maximum impact on improving the safety and experience of women and babies in our care.”

Every trust receiving funding through the Government’s Maternity Safety Improvement Plan has committed to a number of key actions to improve safety.