Breaking down barriers for safer systems: a day of inspiration, innovation and insight
Blog article
In this blog, Jenn Garner and Ann Remmers report on our recent regional learning event, bringing together maternity and neonatal colleagues from across the region. On Wednesday 30 April, we were delighted to welcome colleagues from trusts across the West of England to the regional learning event for our Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programmes…
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Evaluation shows Black Maternity Matters is increasing the knowledge, skills and confidence of maternity and neonatal staff
News
An evaluation of the second training cohort of Black Maternity Matters demonstrates the programme has successfully helped maternity and neonatal staff in the West of England to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence in both understanding the impacts of racism and how it penetrates healthcare institutions. Black women in the UK remain more likely to…
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New research reinforces impact of cerebral palsy prevention programme PReCePT
News
Evidence for the impact of our programme to increase the use of magnesium sulphate, a £5 injection that helps prevent cerebral palsy in premature babies, has been strengthened by a new study published in BMJ Quality and Safety. The use of magnesium sulphate to prevent cerebral palsy has been recommended by NICE since 2015. Although…
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“Deeply affirming” – Black Maternity Matters collaborative celebrates winning national award
News
Members of the Black Maternity Matters collaborative are celebrating after scooping the award for ‘Community Project Impact’ at the prestigious Black Maternal Health Awards UK 2025. Held in London on Saturday 22 March to celebrate excellence across maternal healthcare, The Black Maternal Health Awards were hosted by The Motherhood Group. Black women in the UK remain…
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PreCiSSIon shortlisted for an HSJ Digital Award
News
Our PreCiSSIon (Preventing Caesarean Birth Surgical Site Infection across a region) project has been shortlisted in the category of ‘Driving Change through Data and Analytics’ in the HSJ Digital Awards 2025 for our work with Cemplicity and the maternity units across the West of England to reduce the impact of surgical site infections (SSI) following caesarean birth. This year marks…
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Black Maternity Matters shortlisted for national award
News
The Black Maternity Matters collaborative has made it to the finals of the prestigious Black Maternal Health Awards UK. We’ve been shortlisted in the Community Project category, which celebrates initiatives creating measurable change in maternal health outcomes at a local level. The Black Maternal Health Awards UK, spearheaded by The Motherhood Group, celebrate excellence across…
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Innovating maternity care: assessing a new solution to improve recovery after childbirth
News
Health Innovation West of England has launched an exciting real-world evaluation with Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH) NHS Foundation Trust to test a groundbreaking device, designed to improve recovery for women and birthing people after childbirth. The focus of the trial is the ‘Hegenberger Retractor’, an innovative tool that supports obstetricians in repairing third- and…
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Black Maternity Matters celebration and graduation event
News
We were excited to welcome colleagues from across the West of England and beyond to a glorious gathering at the Trinity Centre in Bristol on 21 November. The party was a chance to come together and thank everyone who has played a part in our Black Maternity Matters journey to date, and in particular to…
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Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Lead receives NHS England Chief Midwifery Officer Gold Award
News
A Bristol midwife has received the NHS England Chief Midwifery Officer Gold Award for 50 years of outstanding service and achievements in the NHS. Ann Remmers, the Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Lead at Health Innovation West of England, started her career as a midwife at Southmead Hospital, working in both the hospital and community before…
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Cochrane review confirms magnesium sulphate can prevent cerebral palsy in premature babies
News
Giving women at risk of premature birth a simple magnesium sulphate infusion can prevent their babies from developing cerebral palsy, a recent Cochrane review has confirmed. To increase uptake of magnesium sulphate, the PReCePT programme was developed by Health Innovation West of England with University Hospitals Bristol and Weston. As a result of its regional…
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