We are so sorry to hear that you have experienced an adverse outcome during your maternity or neonatal care. If you received maternity or neonatal care in Gloucestershire, our Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate may be able to help you.

On this page…

Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocates help make sure the voices of women and families are listened to, heard and acted upon by their maternity and neonatal care providers when they have experienced an adverse outcome during their maternity and/or neonatal care.

  • Your baby died before they were born, after 24 weeks of your pregnancy.
  • Your baby died within 28 days of birth.
  • Your baby was diagnosed with a brain injury, or this was suspected.
  • The baby’s mother or birthing parent has died.
  • The baby’s mother or birthing parent had an unexpected or unplanned removal of their womb, within 6 weeks of giving birth.
  • The baby’s mother or birthing parent had an unexpected admission to the critical or intensive care unit.

You do not need to be sure if there were mistakes or negligence in the mother’s, birthing person’s or baby’s care to ask for support. If the advocate is not best placed to support you as part of their role, they will signpost you to other support services available.

It is up to you if you wish to use an advocate. If at any time you don’t want their service you can tell them, and don’t need to give a reason why.

If during your maternity or neonatal care in Gloucestershire you experienced an adverse outcome, whether recently or some time ago, you can go to a Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate for help.

The role has been created because important reports tell us that families who have had these experiences have not always felt listened to, and care didn’t always get better.

If you have experienced an adverse outcome, your advocate can:

  • support you through the maternity and neonatal healthcare system to help you understand what happened in your care
  • support you through investigation and complaints processes
  • help and support you and your family to be listened to and heard by your maternity and neonatal care providers

A Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate is independent from the trust that provided your care. They work for the local NHS Integrated Care Board which is in charge of healthcare in your area.

Everything you say to your Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate is confidential unless you ask or agree with them to share it with others. The only exception to this is if they are worried about your safety, or the safety of others, but they would talk to you about this first.

Contacting or using a Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate is free. There is no charge for any support given, and interpreters can be made available if you need one.

You can call, email, or write to the Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate, or fill in the form on the website. You can also ask any health, care or support worker to get the Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate to contact you.

Or write to:

Joanna Garrett
NHS Gloucestershire ICB
Shire Hall, Westgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 2TG

The Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate for Gloucestershire is Joanna Garrett (she/her).

Joanna has worked in healthcare for over 15 years in lots of different roles. Joanna has experience of caring for and supporting patients and families in often complex and challenging situations.

Joanna has worked to support healthcare organisations to improve the care that they provide for patients, and this experience will help her to support you.

Joanna understands how hard it is to share your experiences. She can help you to understand things, to feel listened to and heard by those who have provided your care, and make sure improvements are made.

If you want to make a comment, compliment or complaint, please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service at NHS Gloucestershire: 0800 0151 548 or glicb.pals@nhs.net.

Leaflet about the Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate

The information on this page is also available as a PDF leaflet. Download the Gloucestershire Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate leaflet here.

Why was the pilot created?

The Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocates role is a new role being piloted to support women, birthing people and families in England. The plan to introduce advocates was put in place because of reports such as the Ockenden review. These reports show that those who had distressing experiences in their maternity and/or neonatal care in the past have not always been listened to.

The role was developed by NHS England working alongside people who have experienced adverse outcomes and NHS staff.

What happens at the end of the pilot?

At the end of the pilot, if your case is still ongoing a follow up support plan will be discussed with you.

Where else can I get help?

If Joanna is not the right person to help, you can access other support through the links below.

Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS)

The PALS provides help, information and non-medical advice about your care and treatment. It can help you with queries, resolve concerns or make a formal complaint.

Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP)

The role of the MNVP is to listen to the experiences of women and families and bring together service users and staff to plan, review and improve maternity and neonatal care.

Visit the Gloucestershire MNVP website

Advocacy Services

POhWER provide an independent, free and confidential NHS complaints advocacy service in Gloucestershire.

Useful websites

  • Sands is here to support anyone affected by pregnancy loss and the death of a baby to offer understanding and comfort.
  • Tommy’s is dedicated to finding causes and treatments to save babies’ lives as well as providing trusted pregnancy and baby loss information and support.
  • Bliss is here to support parents and families of premature or sick babies.
  • Birthrights exist to protect your human rights during pregnancy and childbirth.
  • Birth Trauma Association supports parents who have experienced birth trauma.
  • PHSO is an independent body that investigates complaints about the NHS and other public organisations in England and UK.
  • AvMA is a charity that provides advice and support to people affected by medical harm, such as medical errors, infections, or complications. It also campaigns for better patient safety and justice in the UK health system.