Equity and Equality
Equity and Equality Action Plan 2022/27
Our plan on a page
Following publication of our Equity and Equality Analysis which took place in November 2021, the Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) has published its Action Plan to tackle health inequality in the North East and North Cumbria.
The Action Plan in particular focuses on women and families from Black, Asian and Mixed ethnic groups and those living in deprivation. Evidence demonstrates that women and their babies from Black, Asian and Mixed ethnic group and those living in deprivation have worse outcomes than the rest of the population. There is also a focus on staff from Black, Asian and Mixed ethnic groups.
At NENC LMNS, we are committed to working with our partners from across the health, care and voluntary sector to support women and their families and improve outcomes for those who are most disadvantaged. This report sets out the key actions we will be supporting with our partners to improve health inequality and make the North East and North Cumbria the safest place to be pregnant, give birth and start parenthood.
David Purdue, Executive Chief Nurse for NHS North East and North Cumbria – Integrated Care Board and Senior Responsible Officer for the LMNS said: “We are absolutely committed to making sure that everyone has an equitable and just opportunity to be healthy. In maternity this means that “all mothers and babies in the North East and North Cumbria will achieve health outcomes that are as good as the groups with the best health outcomes.”
We are working in partnership with local women and their families, health partners and community groups to respond to each person’s unique health and social situation, with increasing support as health inequalities increase – so that care is safe and personal for all.
This Equity and Equality Action Plan builds on the North East and North Cumbria Equity and Equality Analysis which was completed in November 2021. Both the Analysis and this Plan aim to improve maternity and neonatal care by ensuring equity for mothers and babies from Black, Asian and Mixed ethnic groups and those living in the most deprived areas, and also improving race equality for staff.”
Annual Report on Equity and equality: Year one 2022/23
Read the annual report for the first year – 2022/23 which is an update of the progress we have made across the Local Maternity and Neonatal System in improving equity and equality in the North East and North Cumbria.
YEAR ONE -EQUITY AND EQUALITY REPORT
Migrant Women Maternity Care Pathway
Migrant pathway and booklet published
What is a ‘Migrant’? – There is no internationally accepted legal definition of a migrant. Most agencies understand migrants to be people staying outside their country of origin, who are not asylum seekers or refugees.
The North East and North Cumbria Local Maternity and Neonatal System board has approved a new migrant pathway and booklet for use in the North East and North Cumbria.
The pathway and booklet have been designed to support pregnant migrants who may move into or out of the North East and North Cumbria. Their handheld notes are for healthcare professionals in other parts of the country who may not be able to access BadgerNotes – which is in use across the North East and North Cumbria.
The pathway was originally developed in North Cumbria and will now be used in the North East too. The woman will keep a copy of a specially developed booklet, printed copies have been sent to public health midwives.
Staff complete the information in the booklet and the woman keeps this handheld record which can be used to support their maternity care if they move out of the North East and North Cumbria. The booklet is in English as it is designed to support professional communications about the woman’s care.
We would like to thank the Vulnerable Migrant Task and Finish Group who produced the pathway and colleagues in North Cumbria who produced this Maternity Profile.
Support for vulnerable migrant women
The following documents have been produced as part of the work we are doing to help vulnerable migrant women access support. The documents contain a directory of charities and services that provide support and advice to migrant women and their families.
NENC LOCAL DIRECTORY TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE MIGRANTS
NATIONAL AND NENC LOCAL DIRECTORY TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE MIGRANTS
Public health prevention in maternity
The NENC LMNS Public Health and Prevention team leads on the strategic priorities of:
- NENC Integrated Care Board (ICB)
- The Maternity & Neonatal Single Delivery Plan
- The LMNS Equity & Equality Plan
- Supporting delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan
You can find out more about our work on the ICB website.