Our Maternity Lead – Amanda Doughty
Hi, I’m Manda, and I am the Maternity Lead for MNVP Nottingham & Nottinghamshire. My role is a full-time position over 5 days. I have been the Maternity Lead since June 2022. My role is to ensure that the voices of women, birthing people and their families is not only heard in maternity but listened to, any actions are taken forward and positive change implemented.
How do I do that?
- I work with our Engagement Leads to listen and collect birth stories to help identify good practice and areas of issue or poor care.
- I attend governance meetings where decisions are made and ensure service user voice is a part of them.
- Along with the MNVP team I help implement change & advocate for continued service improvement to ensure best practice.
- I liaise with national MNVPs to share and listen to best practice across the region.
I have 3 beautiful children, all born at Queens medical Centre. My first child was 2 weeks overdue, so I was induced. My second child, due to me having gestational diabetes and, my first child being huge, I was induced 1 week early. My third child came naturally before her induction date and frustratingly on her older brother’s birthday. Although there were areas of all my children’s births that could have been improved or been better with the power of hindsight, I consider them all positive experiences. It was because I had these positive experiences that I was genuinely shocked to speak to other mums and families in playgroups who have traumatic and awful memories of their maternity births. This encouraged me to apply for the maternity lead role to ensure hospitals were doing everything in their power to ensure that the journey into becoming a parent was the best it could be.
Before this role and until it comes to its end in 2026, I am a parent champion for small steps big changes (SSBC). This is a lottery funded organisation tasked with improving the lives of under 4s in four deprived areas of Nottingham. I have been a volunteer for SSBC for nearly 10 years and due to their ways of working have become a huge advocate for coproduction and system change with service user voice being a vital part of that. SSBC recruits volunteers to share their lived experience and connections within the community to showcase new ideas or improve existing ones.
I am also a literacy champion for National Literacy trust Nottingham, to spread the joy and benefits of reading to all ages. I also Co-Chair a local community Centre ensuring families can attend events and have fun for little to no cost. I am also a parent governor for my children’s school, ensuring parent voice is heard within school decisions.
Our Neonatal Lead – Clare Harris
Hi, I’m Clare, and I’m the Neonatal Lead for the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership. I work in this role for 60 hours per month which I do flexibly to enable me to attend relevant meetings, visit the 3 hospital sites and connect with families as required.
When not undertaking MNVP work, I run the Emily Harris Foundation, a charity set up in memory of my first daughter, to support the families and staff on the Neonatal Unit at King’s Mill Hospital. My experience of having a baby on a Neonatal Unit has given me an insight into the rollercoaster journey that brings, and I am passionate about making life for those families a little easier at a time when they are likely to be feeling very stressed.
When not working, I have a husband and 3 other daughters who keep me very busy! I am also a member of a local Methodist Church, sing in a choir and have been known to tread the boards with Mansfield Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society! I enjoy watching sport (definitely not playing!) although being a Notts County fan is arguably more stressful than any other aspect of my life!
Our NUH Hospital and Community Engagement Lead – Tara Newbold
Hi I’m Tara, the MNVP Engagement Lead. I’ve been a very loving relationship (most of the time ha!) for over 20 years and I’m a mum of two amazing Boys who were both born at the City Hospital via Emergency section, which given the situation it went fantastically well. I’ll be in the City Hospital on Tuesday and QMC on Wednesday and any other times I can, so if you see me around, come say hi.
I’m also a volunteer as a parent champion for Small Steps Big Changes which I’ve been doing for around 9yrs, which has lead me on to the path I’m currently on. I’m a keen netballer and love all things movie and music.
What does an hospital and community engagement lead do?
- Gather feedback from as many users as possible across maternity and neonatal services.
- Get feedback from lesser heard voices, to make sure all communities experiences are heard.
- Support complexities by signposting to other sources of advice and support.
- Work with SFH staff who have a project they are working on, and they would like a service user voice to help shape the work.
Our SFH Hospital and Community Engagement Lead – Emma Lambert
Hi, I’m Emma, and I work with MNVP as an engagement lead for SFH over 3 days a week. In my role I talk to families to get their feedback on their maternity, and neonatal if applicable, journey. I had my little boy at Kingsmill so have first hand experience of the maternity services at SFH. My experience was really positive, and I want to ensure this is the same for every person using the service.
What does an hospital and community engagement lead do?
- Gather feedback from as many users as possible across maternity and neonatal.
- Get feedback from lesser heard voices, to make sure all communities experiences are heard.
- Support complexities by signposting to other sources of advice and support.
- Work with SFH staff who have a project they are working on, and they would like a service user voice to help shape the work.
To achieve all of this I am regularly out and about at community events or groups, and I try to visit Kingsmill once a week and attend a number of different meetings online as well.
I also run my own business Mini First Aid North Nottinghamshire, Grantham and Sleaford providing first aid training to children from 3 years old, parents and carers and professionals. My parent classes led me into my role with the MNVP as I was talking to lots of women about their experiences and realised that I could help their voices be heard and help to make a positive impact for those that would use the services in the future.
I’m also a volunteer with my son’s rugby club and school PTA.
Outside of work I love spending time with my son and husband. As a family we enjoy being out in the countryside, looking after our chickens, going on a dog walk or being around horses (the horses bit is mainly just me!).
I’m looking forward to meeting lots of new people as part of my role with the MNVP, so if you see me in meetings, out in the community or in the hospital please come and say hello to me
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