The Department of Health has launched a new regional partnership
aimed at driving improvements in maternity and newborn care
across Northern Ireland.
The Maternal and Newborn Partnership is a new multidisciplinary
forum that will bring together key stakeholders from across
Health and Social Care to work collaboratively to improve
outcomes and experiences for mothers, babies and families.
It will support efforts to ensure that maternity and neonatal
services remain safe, high-quality, sustainable and centred on
the needs of those using them.
Health Minister said: "The care women and
families receive during pregnancy, childbirth and the early days
of a baby's life has a profound impact, not only on immediate
health outcomes, but on the long-term wellbeing of children,
parents and communities.
I am particularly pleased that the Partnership places such a
strong emphasis on collaboration and engagement. Through working
together, we can continue to build maternity and newborn services
that are safe, equitable, sustainable and responsive to changing
needs.
By bringing together professionals, policymakers, commissioners
and service users, this Partnership will help ensure that
improvement efforts are informed by evidence, guided by clinical
expertise and shaped by the experiences of those who use our
services."
The Maternal and Newborn Partnership will support regional
priorities by promoting consistency of care, helping to identify
opportunities for quality improvement across maternity and
neonatal services and facilitating the sharing of best practice.
A key feature of the Partnership will be its commitment to
ensuring that women, parents and families are actively involved
in shaping and improving services. Their experiences and
perspectives will inform the Partnership's work and help guide
future developments.
Department of Health Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar, who
formally launched the Partnership at an event today, said: Today
is about more than the launch of a new initiative. It is a
demonstration of our shared commitment to work differently, to
work together, and to deliver better outcomes for women, babies,
families and communities across Northern Ireland.
It sends a clear and positive message about the power of
collaboration and our collective determination to improve
services for those who rely on them.
This Partnership recognises that meaningful and sustainable
change can only be achieved by working together. By bringing
together our knowledge, expertise and experience, we can
strengthen services, support our workforce and improve outcomes
for women, babies and families.
Notes to Editors
- The Maternal and Newborn Partnership is a regional
collaborative network focused on improving outcomes and
experiences for women, babies and families.
- Membership includes representatives from the Department of
Health, Public Health Agency, Health and Social Care Trusts,
healthcare professionals, and service user representatives.
- The Partnership will support quality improvement, shared
learning, service development and regional collaboration across
maternity and newborn care services.
- The launch event brings together stakeholders from across the
health and social care system to mark the establishment of the
Partnership and agree its future priorities.
