Welcome to Luton & Dunstable MNVP
What we do.
We are an independent NHS advisory group, made up of service users, and their families, commissioners and providers (midwives and doctors) working together to review and contribute to the development of local maternity and neonatal care.
We collect service user feedback through a variety of means, such as our survey, listening events, community outreach and site visits. We share all feedback with staff at the maternity unit and look for trends and themes. These are shared with the people who shape maternity services including the Director of Midwifery, Head of Midwifery, Neonatal Operational Manager Head of Obstetrics and Commissioners. We ask them how they will make changes as a result. We review and co-produce on these themes through projects with maternity services, involving service users wherever we can.
NHS England’s recent 3 year delivery plan for neonatal and maternity services states:
“Voices of all women including those from diverse backgrounds must be heard, and services should work closely with all service users to collaboratively plan, design and improve care.”
You feedback, we listen.
Your voice matters! To share your experience please fill out our survey. If you would prefer a phone call please just get in touch at hello@lutonmnvp.com to let us know.
Meet The Team
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Chair - ensures that we meet our goals in line with our workplan. Provides the strategic link to the Hospital and Board and leads overall on our projects.
Hello, my name is Emma and I am Chair of the MVP, but I am first and foremost a service user. I have 4 children, with my youngest being born at the height of the Covid 19 pandemic. My first was born at the L&D after I was induced, and my last 3 were all born at home. One of my babies had to go straight to NICU after he was born for tests to be carried out. I received wonderful care from most of the staff that supported me, but also had to fight for the births that I wanted and felt that I wasn’t listened to at times.
My background is within education departments of Local Authorities, supporting Children Looked After and then as a SEND Officer.
I believe that everyone accessing maternity services should be treated kindly and, where safe to do so, get the birth that they hoped for. I was interested in this role as I wanted to be part of creating positive change. I want to be an ally to all those who feel they aren’t heard. Too many women and birthing people are not listened to, or are not treated as they should be and this is not good enough.
It isn’t all bad though! There is also lots and lots of amazing care being provided and we are here to learn from that to and share this great practice.
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I’m Shabeena . Your Luton Maternity voice partnership inclusion lead for ethnic communities.
As a previous service user of the Luton and Dunstable hospital maternity department myself, I felt there was not enough means of support for women to express their views on their maternity experiences/stories
There was always a need for womens’ maternity voices to be heard especially from different ethnic background and my role within Luton maternity voice partnership is pivotal to this .
Luton MVP is about bringing positive changes to the already amazing service offered by Luton and Dunstable hospital maternity dept . My experiences from various academic professions will help strengthen community interaction from seldom heard groups and facilitate participation to make it inclusive for all user representatives
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Hello, I’m one of the Inclusion Leads for Luton MVP. I am a mum to one, who was born at 28wks which meant we spent a lot of time in the hospital at L&D and Bedford.
This experience made me realise how important our maternal health services are and I was incredibly lucky to receive good care for my son. But it did make me want to do more for any future mothers who might have the same birth experience, especially those who looked like me.
I have experience in fundraising, project management and communications in the healthcare sector. I am keen to use both my professional and lived experience to make the most of my role as an Inclusion Lead.
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Michelle is our Engagement Manager, focusing on reaching out to our community, gathering vital feedback and supporting our wonderful volunteers.
Michelle is a mother of four children, all born at the L&D hospital ranging from 2011-2023.
She is passionate about ensuring that all voices are heard and represented and that through this the MNVP can help to develop and progress our local maternity services.
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Communications Lead - to expand our reach through our social media, surveys, website and any other means that increase the awareness and accessibility of the MVP.
Hello, I am Communications Lead for the Luton & Dunstable MVP. I am mum to three boys, all born at the L&D and two of those are NICU babies due to my having pre-eclampsia.
I received incredible care for myself and my babies, but remember well how overwhelming the experience was at times. I am passionate about making sure we involve women and their families in the development of services and in the planning of their care.
Professionally I have worked in organisational development and management for many years, and ran a communications business for several years also I am really grateful that I can bring my professional skills to this role, to learn from the experiences of women and other birthing people, to feed into meaningful change in the services they access.
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As Neonatal Lead Emily is passionate about working with families to improve the experience of those whose babies require neonatal care.
Emily's third child was born at 27weeks and after more than 19 weeks in NICU (primarily at Luton but also at GOSH).
Emily is now keen to use her role with the MNVP to support other families going through a similar journey to have the most positive experience possible in such difficult circumstances.
Upcoming events
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Workshop for Parents & Pregnant Women of Black Heritage
Come along to learn more about the MVP and share your experiences. Creche available!
19.04.2024 10:00: - 12:00
Tokko Youth Space,
7 Gordon St, Luton LU1 2QP
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Roma Workshop
Workshop for parents and pregnant women of Roma Heritage.
29.04.2024 10:00 - 12:00
Bury Park Community Centre,
161, 161b Dunstable Rd, Luton LU1 1BW
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Redevelopment Workshop
Join us to talk about plans for the brand new maternity unit and help shape the future of maternity care in the area.
Chaul End Community Centre,
515 Dunstable Rd, Luton LU4 8QN