Introduction

Improving the experience of women and their families in maternity services has been identified as a national and a local priority by the National Clinical Director and through local consultation. According to the NHS Outcomes Framework 2016/17 work around improving maternity services links to:

• Domain 1: Preventing people from dying prematurely.
• Domain 3: Helping people to recover from episodes of ill health or following injury
• Domain 4: Ensuring that people have a positive experience of care.
• Domain 5: Treating and caring for people in a safe environment and protecting them from avoidable harm.

Yorkshire and the Humber Clinical Network stakeholder event identified the following key objectives for the CN:

• Agree an CN work programme reflecting and supportive of national and local priorities
• Develop clear structures and accountabilities to ensure the appropriate engagement at the right levels
• Act as a conduit for information gathering to enable benchmarking and accurate identification of variation across the region
• Facilitate cross boundary and cross organisational engagement and working
• Develop targeted groups to deliver the work programme priorities
• Be aware of the national and local agenda and current work being undertaken
• Work in a way that avoids further duplication

Maternity Work Programme Priorities 2016/17

The CN work programme priorities are based on national, regional and local priorities for the commissioners of maternity services.  The main areas of our work are: 

• Stillbirths
• Perinatal mental health
• Maternal enhanced and critical care
• Y&H Maternity Dashboard
• Pre-term births
• Configuration of Maternity Services
• National Maternity Review

So - What are we Doing Now?

• Focusing on reducing stillbirths and improving services for bereaved families
• Reviewing and improving perinatal mental health care provision across the region
• Reviewing and improving maternal enhanced and critical care services
• Supporting the development of improved data collection
• Supporting implementation of the Maternity Transformation Programme based on the National Maternity Review
• Working collaboratively with stakeholders
• Ensuring appropriate user involvement in work programme activities