Meet the team
As chairs/co-chairs we will aim to do the following in our roles;
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We will have patience and listening ear when it comes to hearing the voices of women and birthing people in our community. Especially those voices that are seldom heard or may only be a whisper.
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Represent their voice in your work with the local maternity team and commissioner to improve services and co-design improvements locally.
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Signpost individual women, birthing people and their families to individuals, services, information, and support, to address their concerns and enable them to make informed choices and plan their maternity care.
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Work collaboratively with the MVP partners (University Hospital’s Sussex, NHS Sussex, and Sussex Local Maternity and Neonatal System) to co-design improvements.
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Have a focus on developing a local network of parent & service user voices that reflect the population in each area they work.
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With an additional focus on listening to pregnant and birthing people from population groups that carry a higher risk of having a worse outcome.
Meet the co chairs or leads that work within our Maternity Voices Partnership below.
Laura Naish
Strategic Chair & Co-Chair for Royal Sussex County Hospital,
Brighton & Hove
Hello, I'm Laura! I'm Strategic Chair & Co chair for Brighton & Hove for our MVP. I’m proud to be part of this wondful initiative working in partnership with the NHS to improve birth, maternity & postnatal services in our region.
I am a breastfeeding peer supporter, an expert by experience supporting service users via the perinatal mental health team. I also chair a perinatal mental health working together group. My background is as a PA, administrator and receptionist.
I am mum to a happy, healthy 3 year old but my journey through pregnancy wasn’t as straightforward as I would have expected. My mental health deteriorated and I was also diagnosed with severe preeclampsia. This made me really unwell, leading to an emergency
c-section & premature birth of my daughter. I also have experienced gestational diabetes as well as my daughter needing extra support from the NICU team after birth.
Having a baby has changed my entire orbit and it is these experiences have made me want to help and support others. During pregnancy I learned that it can be difficult to access the services you need and advocate for yourself at a vulnerable time in your life. This means that I can empathise with and support parents on their journey. I can also provide them with knowledge about what help is available to them during and after pregnancy.
Maternity Voices are here to support you, to listen and to ensure that your voices are heard. We can support you by advocating for you, sharing your feedback with the NHS about your pregnancy & birth, giving you signposting and support if needed and involving you in the improvement of local maternity services.
Email Laura - laura.naish3@nhs.net
Alix James
Vice Chair for St Richards Hospital, Chichester
Hi, I'm Alix Vice Chair for University Hospital Sussex Maternity Voices. I am very excited to have recently been given the opportunity to join this team working to help improve the maternity and postnatal services in your area for all women and birthing people. I feel incredibly passionate about being able to support parents in being able to help you have your views and opinions heard, in the hope for positive change. I run a parent/carer and child group based in Rustington whereby the children get to have fun play with other children and our DBS creche helpers whilst you get to enjoy a hot drink with the other adults. This group has been running for over 50 years however, I recently took over in June and absolutely love it. If I am not organising my group or working, you will always find me with my family.
I live with my husband and my two amazing children and although both planned C-sections I had two very different experiences. After what was a very straight forward delivery with first child, I had expectations of the same with my second. Unfortunately, after a tricky birth second time this meant she had to spend a short but none the less traumatising time in the special care unit. This resulted in me needing to access the Perinatal mental health team for support.
It’s fair to say that team changed my life and gave me the understanding, time and skills I needed to move forward. After my personal experiences I have learnt how challenging and isolating this journey can be, and although being a parent isn’t easy accessing the support and services that you need should be.
I hope to be able to offer support to all people starting or continuing through their parenting journey.
If you would like to share your personal experiences of the maternity services or have any questions about our team the please do not hesitate to email me. Look forward to hearing from you.
Email Alix - alix.james@nhs.net
Jordon Clarke
Vice Chair for Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath
& Worthing Hospital
Hi, I’m Jordon, I represent Worthing Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital, and the surrounding areas.
I live with my husband and 2 children, I’m an antenatal and postnatal practitioner and a breastfeeding counsellor. I feel passionate about woman feeling empowered and heard when it comes to their birth experience and beyond. A woman’s birth experience has such a huge impact on their lives, and I believe parents should have access to the resources and support they need during this time.
I also hope to support our wonderful midwives as they work hard to care for parents through this momentous transition into parenthood.
If I’m not working you’ll usually find me somewhere in my Campervan or socialising with family and friends.
If you would like to share your personal experience of the maternity service at Worthing or St Richards Hospital, or would like to know more about the MVP and/or are interested in working with us, please get in touch via email.