What can an Established MVP Achieve?

1. What can an Established MVP Achieve? Some examples of established local MVP achievements .….

2. What can an established MVP Achieve? Examples from West north & east cumbria

3. Sandra Guise – Lay Chair • Our MVP’s are represented on the Local Maternity System Board. We have ensured that women’s & partner’s views are incorporated into the Better Births plan • MVP’s sought views of women on Community Maternity Hubs to inform development, this is ongoing work to design local hub models and will ensure that local design reflects local women and partners views. • MVP is co-producing leaflets for personalised care and choice within the LMS, and working to ensure that they have positive language empowering women • The MVP’s are actively involved with shaping Public Health strategy for maternity services • We have surveyed women’s views and use of pregnancy apps • We produce a feedback newsletter which is reported at each MVP meeting. MVP key focus areas are identified from feedback received. • Several sub groups are working on different areas for improvement, this capitalises on service user interests and efforts. • MVP have taken an active role in birth room environment improvements for new MLU’s, and led some improvements such as design of active birth posters. We have built up local relationships, partnerships & structures for involvement both virtual and face to face We strive to reach all women, developing strong grassroots networks in local areas helps us connect West Cumbria MVP has played a role in developing ongoing dialogue with women and families on maternity services choices within the context of contentious obstetric service review. We are a recognised partner in implementation of Better Births locally

4. What our service user reps say “A MVP can listen to the issues of a maternity system at grassroots level. Listening to those who have first hand knowledge” “The MVP ensures current and recent service user’s experiences are used effectively to improve maternity services throughout West Cumbria” “MVP creates a collaborative exchange of ideas leading to changes that are service user influenced, and sometimes led”

5. MVP’s from a Commissioning Perspective • A trusted source of feedback from our community  - can fully contribute to the achievement of  better services for women, partners and families • A key lead role in co-production on behalf of women and the wider community • A perspective which is always fully family centered - can keep things firmly on agenda i.e. the needs of Dads and partners • A source of expertise – can be a key driving influence in the  development of all plans e.g. the Better Births plan • True advocates of women – A reminder of what is important to women - can keep us all to be grounded in our approach • A link into national and regional infrastructures – can influence at lot of levels • A true role in identifying themes that are coming up from women – making sure the commissioners and service providers  hear the key messages

6. What can an established MVP Achieve? Examples of what has been achieved in northern lincolnshire

7. Ruth Prentice – Lay Chair • We identified the need for better support for bereaved parents, losing babies to miscarriage, still birth or neonatal death and held open meetings to discuss what support they wanted. This clearly made the case for a bereavement midwife in the Trust. The bereavement midwife is now in post and working with the MVP to develop the local service • We have helped maintain the paid breastfeeding peer support service by reporting a survey completed by over 180 parents, including Dads, who explained what a difference the peer support service made. • Reviewed the tongue tie care pathway and, with parents feedback, helped changed the referral pathway and the care received with very positive outcomes. • We surveyed parents about the perceived emotional support available, information available about PNMH and suggestions for additional services to improve support locally. We surveyed via family hubs, independent groups and social media, to ensure good reach within the community. The results have helped direct the work of the PNMH steering group and provided additional support when seeking funding for a Trust perinatal mental health midwife.  • MVP feeding back parent's viewpoints for paediatric/neonatal end of life An established MVP with the right networking in place can achieve almost anything! We have definitely influenced many parts of the service over the past 6 years from the service specification, service guidelines, service provision and the involvement of women in shaping the care provided. As chair I attend meetings within the Trust and wider governance structure, enabling the service user perspective and needs of women (and their families) to be kept as a focus. I feel this is the remit of the chair's role on these occasions, as clearly all others in the room need to focus on the remit for their role, be it funding, implementation, safety, guidelines, etc. MVPs have a key role in the local implementation of Better Births to ensure this meets the needs and expectations of local women by seeking feedback, providing representation and facilitating co-production at every opportunity.

8. MVP’s from a Commissioning Perspective • An effective Maternity Voices Partnership is integral to the delivery of Better Births • The only way that CCG’s can truly commission safe, responsive and sustainable maternity services is to ACTIVELY listen to the views and experiences of those who use the services we commission. • ‘If you want to check if the shoe fits don’t ask the manufacturer or the shoe shop, rather ask the person who is wearing them’,for me this statement sums up the vital importance of gaining user views so that we co-design services which meet the needs and values of our local population.

9. What Can an Established MVP Achieve? Examples of what has been achieved in County durham & darlington

10. Cathy Harvey – Lay Chair • As part of Better Births implementation we are looking at choice and personalised care, & what it means for women • MVP have regular surveys, using questionnaires & reaching out via social media and visiting groups including young parent’s groups • MVP conduct regular birth room environment and postnatal ward audits • Over time persistence on issues for improvement attracts funding (small amounts can make positive difference i.e. comfy chairs for Dad’s) • We review documentation and information given out to service users • MVP is part of Delivery Suite Forum - user voice as part of Multi disciplinary team “Established MVPs have an impact”

11. Co-production Example:Gathering feedback - listening to the voice of those using birth rooms on the Obstetric Unit. Women co-produced a poster to help other women and their birth support team personalise their birthing space

12. What Can an Established MVP Achieve? Examples from south tees family & birth forum

13. Co-production Example:Gathering feedback - listening to the voice of those planning a Caesarean Birth Through the MVP, women shared their experiences of having positive planned Caesarean birth experiences then they worked with an obstetrician, anaesthetist, consultant midwife and theatre manager to implement Personalised Planned Caesarean Births facilitated by the MVP user chair and user reps.

14. Abi Witherden & LeighannePurver – Lay Co-Chairs • MVP have a15 Steps walkabout well established this takes place before MVP meetings providing regular feedback and improvements • MVP currently involved in project trialling slings for new born babies needing kangaroo care • MVP asked the Obstetrics Theatre Team to take on the Scrub Cap Challenge to make mums more comfortable in surgery – which they did • MVP have reviewed Better Birth pioneer sites choices leaflets to identify what’s important to local women for providing choice and personalised care • MVP and Maternity services are leading the way, working in partnership with local authorities and stop smoking services (see left smoke free campaign).

15. Established MVP’s Network more widely Social media really important way to connect at grassroots, regional and national levels We develop knowledge awareness of what MVP’s can achieve and mentor newer MVP groups National Maternity Voices Regional Networks, Clinical Networks, London MVP network [Laura] Greater Manchester[Cathy B} Northern Clinical Network Maternity Engagement/ other examples