Maternal & Neonatal Health

Cheshire & Merseyside is home to some of the leading clinical and research experts in maternal and child health.

THE LOCAL POPULATION HEALTH NEED

The Public Health England, Child Health Profile for March 2019 shows the following:

  • More babies in Liverpool are now dying before their first birthdays.
  • The teenage pregnancy rate is worse than England, with 195 girls becoming pregnant in a year.
  • 7% of women smoke while pregnant which is worse than England. Breastfeeding rates in this area are worse than England. 55.0% of mothers initiate breastfeeding. By 6 to 8 weeks after birth, 35.2% of mothers are still breastfeeding.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING MATERNAL & NEONATAL HEALTH

  • What happens in pregnancy and early childhood impacts on physical and emotional health all the way through to adulthood.
  • Supporting good maternal health is important for safe delivery and good birth weight to give babies the best start
  • The prevention of adverse health factors in pregnancy is vital. Premature and small babies are more likely to have poorer outcomes.
  • The earliest experiences, starting in the womb, shape a baby’s brain development.

THE WAY FORWARD

To address the regional maternal and child health needs, the Starting Well programme will consult with partners to understand the health priorities for clinicians, academics and other stakeholders across the Cheshire & Merseyside region. To assist us in this consultation process, we are using an adapted Delphi-Method.

We will work with partners to:

    • Discover Partners’ Priorities
    • Educate Partners in Clearly Defined Areas
    • Improve Partners’ Collaborations in Defined Areas

A current example of partnership working is the ‘Children’s Health and Wellbeing’ programme which includes the Hugh Greenwood Children’s Fund which is now in its second year. The programme is based on providing funding for programmes and fellowships for partnership work between Alder Hey NHS Children’s Hospital, Liverpool Women’s Hospital and the University of Liverpool. 

Prof. Michael Beresford – Programme Director

Dr. Colin Morgan – Deputy Director

Dr. Carrie Hunt – Programme Manager

Tel: 07500 835435

 Email: Carianne.hunt@liverpool.ac.uk

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