North Central London Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC)
Introduction
The North Central London MSLC aims to promote and develop maternity services across the 5 providers of maternity care in our area:
- Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust (including The Edgware Birth Centre)
- North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust
- Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
- University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust (Elizabeth Garrett Anderson)
- The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust
The MSLC is a dedicated committee made up of local parent representatives and health professionals, which advises the North Central London maternity units and the local primary care trusts which finance local health services, on the care they provide to women, their partners and their babies, during pregnancy, birth and in the weeks after the baby's arrival. Our role is to make sure that the Trusts listen to and take account of the views and experiences of people who use their maternity services.
Who are the members of the committee?
The committee is made up of a mix of health professionals who have an impact on maternity services: GPs, obstetricians, paediatricians, midwives, health visitors and commissioners. There are also members from the local community services, including Childrens Centres and voluntary groups supporting women and families.
Finally, and most importantly, the Maternity Liaison Committee welcomes women who have recently used the maternity services in Camden and Islington.
The mix of the membership is crucial so that there is the expertise and experience of professionals in partnership with the different perspective of the service user.
What do we do?
The Committee meets locally around 6 times a year, for a couple of hours per session. It is an important forum for discussion and sharing of information for the health professionals who work in different hospitals but face similar challenges. It is also an opportunity for people who use the service to question how well our maternity services are doing and also support new initiatives and offer input into doing some things differently.
How does it work?
Meetings are open to all users of maternity services.
Currently, 3 of the 6 meetings are targeted specifically at a maternity unit and lay chair or vice chair or trained lay members of the committee are invited to ‘Walk the Ward’ in the hospital prior to the meeting, to provide a snapshot of current care (see more on ‘Walking the Ward’ below). A crèche, travel expenses and lunch will be provided on the day at a venue either in the maternity unit in question or local community centre. The other 3 meetings will take place at Camden Primary Care Trust or Islington Primary Care Trust.
Why should I join?
This is the right place for you to have your say about your maternity services. In partnership with the people who provide those services, we can shape the way women are cared for to make sure that having a baby in a North Central London maternity unit is the kind of experience you want it to be.
"Walking the Ward"
Prior to each relevant meeting, up to two service users may be invited to shadow the lay chair or vice chair or lay member when they visit maternity units and seek the views of women (and their partners) on the wards.
The chair and or vice chair will usually meet with the ward manager who will accompany them onto the ward, introduce and explain the purpose of their visit and also alert them to patients physically and mentally well enough to respond to questions. All clinical areas will be notified in advance.
Women seeking the views of people on the ward will be respectful and sensitive towards them at all times.
Leaflets about joining the MLSC will be distributed.
Lay representatives who walk the ward use a framework of questions to help guide discussions about women’s experiences of maternity care. These include:
- What do you think of the service you have received during pregnancy and after?
- What are the most positive things about the service you have received?
- What areas do you think could be improved?
- How do you think these areas could be improved?
Women may remain anonymous or give their names. It is important, wherever possible, that when issues are raised about care on the ward patients are given a response to their concerns and know that it has been discussed by the committee.
