The Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate is a newly introduced role aimed at supporting women, birthing individuals and families across England.
The initiative stems from the actions outlined in the Ockenden Review regarding maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital.
Annette, Ellie and Jan are advocates from ‘People First’ (an independent advocacy organisation) covering South Tyneside and Sunderland who will help anyone who has experienced an adverse outcome voice their concerns.
They do not work for the NHS or Social Services – meaning they can support people who are not happy with their care to have a say.
They will guide you through the process, ensuring your voice is heard and your concerns are addressed. Services are free and remain confidential.
You can seek advice from an advocate if:
- Your baby died before they were born
- Your baby died a few days or weeks after they were born
- You were told your baby has a brain injury or that they might have a brain injury
- You stayed in critical or intensive care, and this was not planned
- You had your womb taken out and this was not planned
- The baby’s mother or person that gave birth died
The North East and North Cumbria Information Commissioning Board is responsible for managing your personal information related to your interactions with the MNISA service. NHS England oversees the reporting system utilised by the MNISA service, ensuring secure storage of any information you provide.
To work with Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocates, you need to have been looked after in the North East or North Cumbria area.
To better assist you and your family, the advocates would be pleased to arrange a meeting. They offer several options for discussion, including in-person meetings, phone consultations, and video calls.
They will accompany you to meetings, guide you through the maternity and neonatal healthcare system, assist you in understanding your care experience, and support you during investigations and complaint processes.
MNISA advocates are committed to providing professional support to you and your family, ensuring your voices are heard by maternity providers.
For more information, please download the guide or email MNISA@wearepeoplefirst.co.uk or call 0300 303 8037.
