NEW and soon to be parents and carers in Southport and Ormskirk are being encouraged to share their views and experiences of maternity services at an upcoming listening event.

Southport Ormskirk Sefton Maternity Voices Partnership (SOS MVP) are co-hosting a world café listening event on Friday, 14 July 2023 with Ormskirk Maternity Services to gain valuable feedback from current and recent service users.

Maternity Voices Partnerships are NHS working groups made up of a team of local parents and their families, community groups and health professionals, working together to review and improve local maternity care.

The session will be held between 9:30am – 11:30am in the Oak room of the Linaker Family Wellbeing Centre (PR8 5DQ) and is open to current and expecting parents, their families and local service user representatives, such as support groups, who can help represent the voice of those utilising maternity care.

Those visiting will have the opportunity to participate in small group discussions led by Ormskirk Maternity staff and speak to representatives from Breastfeeding Support Sefton, PANDAS Sefton, Mums the Word and Sefton Family Wellbeing Centres.

Feedback from the event will be used to inform the future work of the MVP and influence positive change within local maternity services.

The event is family friendly, with toys being provided for children during the session, and refreshments and goody bags available for parents attending.

Abi Cattlin, MVP Chair for Southport, Ormskirk and Sefton, said:- “The MVP is working hard to change and develop local maternity care to ensure maternity services are centred around the people using them and meeting their needs. We couldn't do this great work without your honest feedback so we’re really keen to hear from current and recent service users, their families and local service user representatives or community groups to help us shape the future of local maternity services”.

Those wishing to attend or seeking more information contact Abi Cattlin, Southport, Ormskirk and Sefton’s MVP Chair, at:- voices.mvp@gmail.com