How the Hegenberger Retractor supports careful, dignified postnatal repairs
Blog article
For perineal specialist midwife Malene Hegenberger, a challenge encountered repeatedly in practice became the starting point for a new innovation in postpartum care. After finding it difficult to achieve a clear view and maintain access when examining and repairing perineal tears following childbirth, Malene developed the Hegenberger Retractor, a device designed to gently hold tissue…
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Health innovation in action
Blog article
Marking the publication of Health Innovation West of England’s new impact report for 2025-26, our Chair and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of England, Steve West, and our Chief Executive, Natasha Swinscoe, reflect on a year of transformative progress in embedding innovation into everyday care. Over the past year, Health Innovation West of…
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From community activism to system accountability: highlights from the Black Maternal Health Conference
Blog article
During Black Maternal Health Week, our Head of Communications, Vanesther Hamer, shares her reflections on attending the Black Maternal Health Conference UK 2026 in London last month. In March I had the privilege of joining colleagues to represent Black Maternity Matters at the Black Maternal Health Conference UK 2026 in London, and I’ve found myself…
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In conversation: Jan Scott, Senior Programme Manager – Patient Safety
Blog article
In the latest in our series of interviews with members of the Health Innovation West of England team, we talk to Senior Programme Manager, Jan Scott, who leads our patient safety programmes. Jan reflects on her career so far, the work she’s passionate about, and the impact in patient safety we’re collectively striving to make across…
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A midwife’s view on patient safety: From birth to beyond
Blog article
Patient safety from the start!’ — This powerful slogan defines the focus of this year’s World Patient Safety Day, shining a vital spotlight on ensuring safe care for newborns and children. Led by the World Health Organization (WHO), this year’s campaign is a global call for urgent and united action to eliminate avoidable harm in…
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Prioritising maternal and child safety: A lifelong commitment
Blog article
Each year on World Patient Safety Day, the global community comes together to shine a light on a vital issue that impacts millions. In 2025, the focus turns to one of the most vulnerable populations: newborns and children. With the powerful slogan ‘Patient safety from the start!’, this year’s campaign, led by the World Health…
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Why safety culture needs more than policies
Blog article
In this new blog post, Gill Travers reflects on how integrating the MOMENTS framework into the Midwifery programme at the University of the West of England (UWE) is encouraging students to reimagine safety culture. Moments that matter: embedding the MOMENTS Framework into midwifery education at UWE In the heart of the UWE’s Year 2 Pre-Registration…
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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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Celebrating one year of the Regional Perinatal Equity Network
Blog article
In this blog our Maternal and Neonatal Clinical Lead, Ann Remmers, looks back on a successful year of the Regional Perinatal Equity Network (RPEN) and forward to the next meeting on 13 October 2022. The network provides an opportunity for those working within maternity and newborn services, related organisations and parents and parent partners to…
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The power of language
Blog article
In response to the growing commitment in the region to work together to address inequality and inequity within maternity and neonatal services the Regional Perinatal Equity Network was launched in July 2021 by the West of England and South West Academic Health Science Networks. In this blog, Katie Donovan Adekanmbi, Inclusion and Cohesion Specialist from…
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