Southmead Maternity Services

08/07/2026

A Message to Women, Birthing People and Families Using Our Maternity Services

Following the publication of the Amos and Ockenden reviews, we want to reassure women and families that safe, compassionate and personalised care remains at the heart of everything we do.

We know these reports may cause concern, particularly for those currently pregnant or using maternity services. If you have questions or concerns, please speak to your midwife, doctor or maternity team. Your voice matters and you will be listened to.

Read more on the BFT website: Link in comments

A message from our MNVP💜

Following the Ockenden and Amos reports, we recognise that these findings may be difficult for many people to read, particularly those with personal experiences of maternity or neonatal care, people who are pregnant, and also staff.

These reviews highlight the importance of listening, learning and working together to improve maternity care We recognise the dedication of staff and the need to support them so they can provide compassionate, personalised care.

As your Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP), we are here to ensure the voices of women, birthing people, babies, and families are heard and help shape improvements in maternity care.

If you would like to share your thoughts, experiences, or ideas about how maternity care can continue to improve, we are here to listen.

Contact BNSSG MNVP at [email protected] or complete our Have Your Say form.

All feedback is anonymous and helps shape local maternity and neonatal services. 💜

03/07/2026

Congratulations to our team of marvellous midwives from Percy Phillips at Hospital NHS who took on a walk from the hospital to the Downs in support of for Mothers ' perinatal mental health helpline.

The midwives and maternity support workers have raised more than £1,100 towards the REACH service through their efforts. 💙

02/07/2026

Do you have, or have you previously had gestational diabetes?

We will soon be starting an exciting new research study here in Bristol with pregnant women and birthing people who have gestational diabetes. Before it starts, we need your help to design this research to make sure that women understand the study and want to take part, so that it can help us identify what is the best pregnancy diabetes care.

If you have experience of gestational diabetes (either currently or in the last few years) we'd like to hear from you and get your thoughts on the project. We will meet interested participants in July 2026 and your time and expenses will be recognised with a voucher or payment. More information is provided in the flyer/picture below.

We particularly want to highlight this opportunity to our mums from lower income families and those who identify as being from Black, Asian and other global majority backgrounds, to ensure that everyone feels welcomed to take part in our research.

Please contact the researcher Anna Davies for more information or to take part: [email protected]

06/05/2026

Our maternity team was in London yesterday to celebrate the approval of OdonAssist™ - an innovative birth device first used in Southmead Hospital NHS.

Thanks to the mums and families who were involved in the first trials of the device - 300 babies have now been born using OdonAssist™.

Read more about OdonAssist™ and our role in the first new assisted birth device to reach clinical practice since the 1950s on our website (link in comments 👇)

10/02/2026

Best Start in Life: Family Survey Bristol will have a new Best Start in Life Plan from 1 April 2026. This plan is about making sure every baby, child, and family gets the right support from pregnancy to
age five.
Family Hubs, midwives, health visitors, speech and language teams, nurseries, schools, libraries and community groups will all work more closely together so families can find information and help more easily.
We want to hear from you so we can shape this plan together. Our early idea for our shared vision is: "Partners taking steps together so families belong and thrive.”
The confidential survey is open until Sunday 22nd June. Follow the link below to take part.
Please email [email protected] if you are interested in any future engagement sessions about the Best Start in Life Plan.

05/02/2026

We are so proud to be the first team in the South West to reach this fantastic 20-year milestone! 💕

Congratulations to Southmead Maternity Services, who have been UNICEF Baby Friendly accredited for 20 years!

The team work incredibly hard to support parents and families with infant feeding and forming close early bonds, to give their baby the best possible start in life. This is a huge milestone, and the team are the first in the South West to have reached it – well done all!

30/01/2026

Urgent reminder 🚨

Today, BBC Morning Live featured a segment about private scan clinics.

After interviewing 2 mums with negative experiences of private scan clinics, the presenter said pregnant women could check their baby’s heartbeat themselves with a stethoscope for reassurance. This advice is not only wrong, but dangerous because you could be falsely reassured.

No home scanning device, doppler or app can tell you if your baby is well. While it may sound tempting, it's not a safe way to listen to your baby’s heartbeat or check they're okay. This can only be done by a midwife or health professional.

Unless you're professionally trained, it's easy to confuse what you're hearing or seeing and be falsely reassured.

If you're worried about reduction in baby's movements, or have any other concerns, contact your maternity unit immediately.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3JuW58H

27/01/2026

The Maternity Triage Line is available 24/7, 365 days a year for all contact from women and birthing people from 20 weeks pregnant through to 6 weeks postnatal, including if you are in labour.

This replaces any numbers that were in use before 27 January 2026.

20/01/2026

Your voice matters! Women who identify as Black and Asian are warmly invited to attend our bespoke focus group about pain relief!
We want to hear your ideas on:
1) What would have made your experience of pain relief during childbirth and afterwards better and
2) How you would like to learn about pain relief options for future pregnancies
Please book here for your free ticket: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/focus-group-improving-your-experience-of-pain-relief-in-childbirth-tickets-1980714314835
For any questions please contact: [email protected] or 07747 776 553.
The venue is family friendly and your children are very welcome. Please let us know if you have any language requirements

02/01/2026

If you gave birth with us over Christmas or New Year we would love to share your experiences?

We are always keen to share the stories of women and birthing people who have given birth with us, whether in hospital or at home. We know that seeing the experiences of others can be a comfort or inspiration to others.

If you're interested in learning more or sharing your birth story whether you gave birth over Christmas or New Year, or any other time, email [email protected]