Maternity Services Report

Healthwatch Derbyshire gathered 229 experiences of maternity services between September and November 2016, covering antenatal care, labour and postnatal services. Feedback about midwives was overwhelmingly positive, with many parents praising both community and hospital midwives for being supportive, caring and professional. Continuity of care was particularly valued, with parents reporting that seeing the same midwife helped build trust and reduced the need to repeatedly explain concerns.

Several recurring concerns emerged. Parents reported delays in identifying and treating tongue-tie, with some feeling that problems with feeding were not recognised quickly enough. Long waits for antenatal scans and consultant appointments were also common, and participants felt communication about delays could be improved. Feedback about health visitors was mixed, with some parents receiving excellent support while others experienced difficulties getting responses or felt their concerns were not taken seriously. 

Breastfeeding support in the community received particularly positive feedback, with many parents valuing specialist services and infant feeding cafés. However, experiences of support on postnatal wards were more varied, especially around feeding assistance. Participants also highlighted concerns about postnatal depression, describing inconsistent recognition and support from professionals. Some felt that both mothers’ and fathers’ mental health needs were overlooked during the postnatal period. 

Healthwatch concluded that services should focus on improving the identification and management of tongue-tie, strengthening continuity of care, improving communication about delays and appointment changes, enhancing support for postnatal mental health and ensuring parents are better prepared for labour, birth and the realities of caring for a newborn. Concerns about cancelled caesarean sections, breastfeeding support and access to health visitors were also highlighted as areas for improvement.