Introduction
The Lancashire and South Cumbria (LSC) Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) was established in April 2017. It is now known as the LSC Maternity and Newborn Alliance (MNA) reflecting local maternity providers, commissioners, higher education institutes, north west coast clinical network, north west neonatal operational delivery network, local authorities and other key partners operating together.
Our purpose is to provide place-based planning and leadership for transformation ensuring services are co-designed with service users and local communities, with the responsibility for improving maternity services and outcomes based on the principles contained within Better Births – Five Year Forward View 2016, ensuring that there is equitable access to services for all women and their babies, regardless of where they live and their ethnic background.
The MNA has a wide programme of work which constantly evolves in response to new guidance and directives as it emerges. Following the Five Year Forward View – Better Births and the NHS Long Term Plan, in December 2020 the Ockenden Report was published, further evidencing the continued need for improving safety in our maternity and newborn services and mandating urgent priorities for compliance. From April 2022 we will also have s statutory responsibility to provide LMS wide quality assurance.
Our vision is to improve outcomes for women and families through provision of safe and high-quality maternity services. The vision also harnesses technology and innovation to enable choice and personalisation of care.
Our values demonstrate our commitment to work together as leaders of our organisations, our localities and of Lancashire & South Cumbria Maternity Services.
National Guidance and Information
Vanessa Wilson
Programme Director, Women & Children’s Services, Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS
Bio
Initially trained as a dietitian I moved into commissioning following a relocation to the North west.
After 11 years in commissioning, including being Director of Service Transformation and then Director of Commissioning at Blackburn with Darwen PCT, my career took a change in direction in 2011 when I moved into operational management as Divisional Director of Operations, at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, for the Family Care Division.
I spent 7 happy years at ELHT but am now thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to lead the Women and Children’s Programme for Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System including the Better Births Programme and Children and Young People’s Transformation Programme – I am determined that by working together as a system we will make a real difference for families.
vanessa.wilson6@nhs.net
07432 514677
Alexandra Murphy
Public Health, Prevention and Early Intervention Strategic Manager
Bio
I have a background at both practitioner and leadership level in both midwifery and health visiting.
Previous roles have included Infant Feeding Coordinator for community services and then later within maternity, Specialist Health Visitor for Sure Start, Practice Development Lead for 0-19 services and Development Support Officer at the Centre for Early Child Development at A Better Start Blackpool leading on the transformation of Blackpool’s health visiting service.
Currently as Public Health, Prevention and Early Intervention Strategic Manager for the local maternity transformation programme within Lancashire and South Cumbria, my work nurtures a shift in culture to ensure that prevention work is embedded in the daily work across our maternity units and associated local systems. Our current priority areas are smoke free pregnancies, parent-infant relationships, infant feeding, maternal nutrition and trauma informed care.
Together with service users, services, commissioners and local public health teams we co-produce action plans which aim to standardise policies, guidance and training for staff and to develop or strengthen pathways of care for service users so that you can access care that is personalised to you.
Jo Dorrity
Transformation Programme Manager for Maternity Services in Lancashire & South Cumbria
Bio
My experience has included working in all elements of Mental Health services, from community teams through to high secure services, drug and alcohol services, primary care vanguard site in Fylde and Wyre for the new models of care for primary care, and very happily for the last 4 years working across Lancashire and South Cumbria managing a complex programme of work in maternity to improve experience and outcomes for all women and families in Lancashire and South Cumbria.
I am so passionate about the work we are delivering and am grateful for the opportunity to work with talented and passionate professionals from all partners involved in this Alliance.Â
Coralie Rogers
Clinical Lead for Digital Maternity
Bio
In these roles I led and implemented several innovative schemes contributing to safety through collaboration including an NHSE commended Always Event to enable women to have a partner or supporter staying with them in hospital after birth and a programme for ambulance crews to work with midwives on labour ward.
Since joining the Better Births programme, I have led on the procurement and implementation of the BadgerNet maternity system. This piece of work, which brings all providers together by using a single version (identical) pregnancy record will help us here in Lancashire and South Cumbria to improve safety, quality and choice.
Claire Wells
Transformation Project Manager for Maternity Services in Lancashire & South Cumbria
Bio
Her role in the team is to lead on the design and delivery of transformation projects that will improve performance, enhance patient experience, improve clinical outcomes and ensure services are sustainable, efficient and affordable.
At home, Claire is recently married and a mum to Harry (9) and step-mum to Ethan (12). In her spare time, which is quite limited, she enjoys home improvement projects and spending time with the boys
Tracy Marsden
Lancashire and South Cumbria Reproductive Trauma Service Manager
Bio
Whilst my background is youth work I have always felt strongly that working with the wider family unit was critical – through this role I had the privilege of setting up Award Winning services across the North of England for families which often required strong links with Mental Health, Criminal Justice and Safeguarding services.
As the Director of Communities at Lancashire Women I was provided with an increased opportunity to develop services which met the needs of women and their families one of which was Perinatal Mental Health working alongside some amazing colleagues with a shared passion for service development, innovation, collaboration and forward thinking.
I feel that my work previously within the voluntary sector provides me with a perspective of understanding regarding the challenges many women and their families face on a daily basis. As I embark on my current role I aim to encompass my learning, knowledge and experience from the last 30 years as I mobilise the Lancashire and South Cumbria Maternal Mental Health Service with an amazingly dedicated team which will support those who are impacted by loss, birth trauma and/or tokophobia as a result of their maternity, neonatal or perinatal journey .
News & updates
Maternity Transformation Programme Bulletin No.122: 9 November 2022
My 53-year Career as a Midwife
Maternity Transformation Programme Bulletin No.121: 21 October 2022
Introducing the BTH Maternity Bereavement Team
Maternity Transformation Programme Bulletin : No.120: 7 October 2022