Our Partnership is made up of organisations working closely together to plan services and address the challenges facing health and care services across the area.
In this section you will find links to useful information and publications about our partnership.
We are committed to meaningful conversations with people, on the right issues at the right time. We believe this is an important part of the way we work.
In this section you will find all Freedom of Information (FOI) requests made to our Partnership. You can also ask a question of your own.
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We are a partnership of maternity and neonatal providers, commissioners, local authorities and Maternity Voices Partnerships working together to transform maternity services in West Yorkshire and Harrogate.
The national maternity review Better Births made recommendations for the planning, design and safe delivery of maternity services; how women, babies and families will be able to get the type of care they want, and how staff will be supported to deliver such care.
Our vision for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Local Maternity System is to provide the highest quality care, information and advice for women, and their loved ones, throughout a pregnancy and whilst planning for a baby. We will strive to be the first choice when it comes to receiving maternity care and giving birth by offering women options and treating them as individuals. We will be supportive and reassuring – never judgemental.
We will listen to, and work closely with, women and their families to make sure they experience care that is safe, responsive and respectful to their needs and wishes throughout the pregnancy and birth.
Our nationally recognised maternity services will attract and retain a highly effective workforce that will be well led, innovative and will continuously learn.
Watch these two short films to find out more about what maternity services mean to local people:
We also have an 'easier to read' version of My journey through maternity care which you can download and read here.
Leanne has type 1 diabetes. She already had a two year-old son, when she was pregnant with her daughter Charlotte. She feels the care she received was much better second time around, thanks to efforts to provide more personalised care.
In her first pregnancy, whilst she had a named midwife but rarely had contact with her. By contrast during her second pregnancy, her named midwife Cathy regularly visited her at her home and took time to understand her story and her history of diabetes. Leanne says managing her condition during pregnancy was difficult but having her midwife’s support helped her feel less isolated.
At 34 weeks, Leanne had been experiencing frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia and was concerned. She texted Cathy, who replied quickly, advising her to go to the Maternity Assessment unit. It was established Leanne was at risk of placenta failure and she was delivered by caesarean section. Leanne feels this quick response helped save her daughter’s life.
As part of Leeds Maternity Strategy, information has been produced to help support women, including those with learning disabilities, through their pregnancy
For Cathy, these have been invaluable in helping her support women often with very complex needs. The resources include information on what to expect from maternity care, birth plans and screening the unborn baby for medical conditions, all in easy read formats.
The team use these as part of a streamlined approach which involves as much preparation as possible in advance of each woman’s first appointment, for example through team huddles to share information. Cathy says a strong team approach is crucial to make sure they can meet the woman’s individual needs and provide safe care.
This document sets out the work that has taken place across West Yorkshire and Harrogate on engagement and consultation of maternity services.
West Yorkshire & Harrogate maternity services health needs assessment
The vision of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Local Maternity Systems (LMS) is based on the needs and collaboration of women and their partner and their families.
Download and read the Local Maternity System Plan (part 1)
Latest Local Maternity System Plan activity
WYH LMS Update Report April 18
Communication plan on a page Choices & Personalisation Communication plan on a page Maternity Voices Partnership Communication plan on a page Local Maternity Systems Communication plan on a page safer maternity care Structure chart Programme contact list
This Equality Impact Assessment identifies the groups of people most likely to be affected by the transformation of local maternity services. This will be used alongside the Maternity Health Needs Assessment (HNA) to help the Partnership develop options to improve maternity care across the area. It will also inform future engagement with people accross West Yotrkshire and Harrogate.
Download and read the Equality Impact Assessment for local maternity services
