Heartbeat: Maternity lead the way in delivering safe care to hard-to-reach community

December 14, 2021

The maternity department has facilitated one of the country’s first third sector pregnancy referral centres which will improve the way women access care.

In a move which is aimed at hard-to-reach Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups, it will mean earlier referrals ensuring a healthier start to pregnancy.

The European Welfare Association (EWA), a community interest organisation focused on supporting migrants, became the first to join the scheme, which is being led by Afrah Muflihi, the recently-appointed equality, diversity and inclusion lead midwife.

Other referral centres to join will be the Yemeni Community Association in Sandwell, Brushstrokes Refugee Centre, Murray Hall Trust, Sandwell and Walsall Citizens Advice Bureau, and Sandwell Consortium.

Representatives from the centres are given training by our midwives so they are able to offer health and wellbeing advice to pregnant women. The patients will also complete a referral form which is given to Trust midwives.

Afrah explained: “We have identified that women from Black and Asian backgrounds, those with limited English speaking abilities and mothers who are not born in the UK are more likely to access maternity care late.

“It is for this reason that we are reaching out to our community partners to help support these women in particular to have equitable access to maternity services.

“Third Sector Pregnancy Referral Centres will be provided with training, resources and ongoing support from the lead midwives to help expectant women they may come across, to directly refer to the local community midwifery team and impart simple health messages to ensure a healthy start to the pregnancy.”

Afrah added: “Good Health in pregnancy significantly influences a baby’s development in the womb which, in turn, influences long-term health and educational outcomes.

“By giving every child the best start in life, we will help them fulfil their health, wellbeing and socioeconomic potential.

“Having early access to midwifery care and pregnancy related health information are one of the key drivers to improving the health of local mothers and their babies.

“Nice Guidelines (August 2021) recommend that antenatal care should be started in a variety of straightforward ways depending on women’s needs and circumstances and at the point of antenatal care referral.”