Who are we?
The Maternity Liaison Group is a friendly network of local parents, midwives, doctors, antenatal class teachers and breastfeeding counsellors who meet regularly to talk about NHS maternity services provided in this area. We talk about how local maternity services are currently run and how they can be improved.
What are the maternity services?
The maternity service in the area covered by NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent (Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Shepway, Swale and Thanet) includes the care you receive whilst expecting your baby and the wellbeing of you and your baby during the birth as well as after your baby’s arrival.
The service is provided across east Kent in a variety of places; hospitals, children’s centres, birth centres and at home, and by a variety of people including midwives, obstetricians and paediatricians.
It also includes information given to pregnant women in order to make their decisions about scans and tests or to give advice on issues such as food safety.
The Maternity Liaison Group is eastern and coastal Kent’s Maternity Services Liaison Committee.
What do we do?
Mums and dads on the group share their own views as well as representing others having a baby in the area.
In 2008 we became Kent finalists in the NHS Best of Health Awards for the changes we had made to improve the maternity service in east Kent. This included the set up of a recovery room adjacent to the caesarean theatre at William Harvey Hospital
in Ashford.
Sometimes our meetings are also joined by GPs, health visitors, young parent group leaders, doulas and others with an interest in maternity services.
Together we hope to ensure that the best maternity services are there for anyone who needs them.
The Maternity Liaison Group meets every other month at the Thannington Neighbourhood Resource Centre in Canterbury.
Travel expenses to meetings as well as childcare costs are reimbursed on the day. Alternatively, babies and young children are welcome at the meeting. There’s parking, room for prams and refreshments.
How can I join?
If you would like more information on becoming a member of the Maternity Liaison Group, please contact Hannah Price on 01227 795017 or email hannah.price@eastcoastkent.nhs.uk. Alternatively you can check out the MSLC Facebook group.
