Maternity Services - Community Insights Report December 2018

Healthwatch Tower Hamlets undertook research on maternity services in the borough. They analysed 202 comments from service users during 2018, identifying 748 issues relating to antenatal care, giving birth and postnatal services. Overall, feedback suggested that maternity services had remained broadly stable compared with 2017, with improvements made since 2016 largely being maintained. 

Many women were positive about the quality of care they received and praised the professionalism, kindness and support provided by midwives and other maternity staff. Women who gave birth at home or in midwife-led units, including the Lotus Birth Centre and Barkantine Birth Centre, reported particularly positive experiences. Postnatal midwives, health visitors, breastfeeding support services and children's centres were also highly valued sources of advice and support for new parents. 

However, a number of concerns were identified. Women reported difficulties contacting antenatal services by telephone, administrative problems with appointments, poor communication and occasional rudeness from reception staff. Some women also described a lack of support on postnatal wards, including feeling ignored, staffing pressures, bed shortages and difficulties obtaining help after giving birth. Awareness of home birth services remained low, and some women continued to view hospital births as the safer option. 

The report concluded that maternity services were generally well regarded but that improvements were needed in communication, administration and postnatal support. It highlighted the importance of maintaining the strengths of community maternity services while addressing concerns about access, organisation and the consistency of support provided after birth.