#Safermaternity

Meet the Team

Hi there all, thank you for joining the movement. It really is lovely to have you come with us as we begin this journey.

Heather Heath Alton

Founder, Educator, Midwife & Mother

My name is Heather, and I'm a mum, wife, and midwife, amongst my many titles. I'm married to Rob, who is my rock. He helps keep me sane and is my tag team partner, juggling our larger than average household! We have 7 children, ranging from 28-13. We also have 3 dogs, 4 cats, a rabbit, and fish, so we have a busy, happy home.

I became a midwife, as I am and always have been, a woman's woman. I truly believe that the bond that women create together at such a pivotal time is awe-inspiring. I never fail to be amazed at the strength of women.

I am disillusioned with the state of maternity care in the UK. The NHS is so underfunded, and the midwifery teams aren't able to offer the safe care that is so needed by families.

My personal passion lies in eradication of the bullying, nepotism, and corruption that exists within so many trusts. This toxic culture does nothing to benefit the families in our care.

The time for change is needed, and I really hope that we can come together to move towards safer care for all and a better system for everyone involved.

ElizabethSmith

Founder, Educator, Midwife & Mother

I am Liz I'm a mother and grandmother and I am married to John since the middle ages. I have witnessed both fabulous and appalling maternity care in my time. I started in the NHS in 1990 and my midwifery training in 1994. During my career I have worked within the NHS and the private sector, and I have a variety of specialities and a wealth of experience in what used to be known as normal birth. I was often recruited to train or provide "low" risk birth experiences for women with "high" risk factors from the mid 2000's onwards.

I was also asked to trouble shoot a maternity hospital that was deemed to be doing well and not failing in comparison to its sister site that was under an RCOG review. My assessment was that the issues identified (including managerial bullying) were usually systemic within the oganisation, fuelled by the poor leadership of the HOM, and my report led to the swift closure of this site. I feel I have some expertise in providing safe care and standing up for women, midwives and maternity staff and promoting safe, empathetic maternity care in general.

I also witnessed the same type of cultural mismanagement at my own grandchilds birth and raised it as a formal complaint, took this to the Parliamentary Health Ombudsman and whilst I won, the Trust were not made to follow the recommendations set out for them in order to make care safer and their actions transparent.

Both the NMC and the NHS closed ranks and consumed any percieved threat, rather than take information on board and act with transparency.

This has to STOP!

Holly Smith

Founder, Entreprenuer & Mother

I am a busy mother to two beautiful children and a puppy. I suffered PTSD and birth trauma in 2016 due to a mulitude of errors. I then had 7 episodes of Sepsis which has had a lasting affect on me. The same two midwives were also involved in the death of a baby, less than 3 months later, despite the hospital being warned about their mentality of 'a normal birth at all cost', their admitted lack of training, and the poor birth centre operational management. This gave me drive and passion to make change and support others in the same situation as me. It also inspired me to found my company called

The Phlebotomy Centre Ltd.

We broke ground as being the first UK CQC regulated independant blood testing clinic and training provider within this industry, including the NHS and Universities. I am extremely proud of what I have accomplished with the help of my amazing team.

Mission Statement

The Maternity Movement was founded in February 2024 by midwives Heather, Elizabeth and mum of two Holly, who has lived with PTSD and birth trauma since 2016 (with a special mention and thanks to a devoted Midwife, activist and published author).

We are passionate about finding solutions to the current crisis in confidence and service delivery. We also hope to identify safer models of care and training to an undervalued and demoralised workforce.

We believe that "safe maternity care involves obstetricians, midwives, anaesthetics, multi disciplinary teams and all other safety campaigners to work together as one team - sharing a common view of what good maternity care looks like and working in partnership with women and families to respect individual choices and prioritise a safe service."

We recognise the urgent need for comprehensive reform in maternity care across the NHS. The troubling prevalence of inadequacies and ethnic disparities, untimely deaths and preventable harm among mothers and babies demands immediate action.

Whilst we advocate for and seek to support all national inquiry's into safer maternity care, we want to produce solutions to challenge the government and prioritise the maternity sector.

Our mission statement encompasses three fundamental aims and will improve maternity services for all who use it:

1) To support the NHS to establish and maintain, gold standard care within all NHS trusts, ensuring that every mother and baby receives the highest level of attention, expertise, and compassion throughout their maternity journey and utilising research which identifies the behaviours and practices that appear to be features of safe care in hospital-based maternity units. (THIS Institute 2021) This includes campaigning for a single policy framework ensure safer practices, improve staffing solutions and a risk register for staff involved in serious incidents within maternity care

2) To elevate childbirth within the UK to the pinnacle of safety on a global scale, striving to create an environment where parents can feel confident and secure in the care they receive, knowing that birth choices are respected and their well-being, and that of their new or unborn baby is paramount. Also, that the training received by maternity staff is universally fit for purpose. This would be regardless of their perceived risk status.

3) To develop solutions to bridge the critical shortage of midwives, doctors and associated maternity health workers, campaigning the elected governments to recognise that meaningful reform can only occur through the allocation of adequate resources and staffing. Increased support and investment in maternity funding is vital.