Protecting human rights in childbirth
Birthrights has today published its response to the consultation on coronial investigations into stillbirths which closes on the 18th June. We urge all those with an interest to submit a response before the deadline next Tuesday. Birthrights recognises the positive intent to help families, who have suffered the heartbreak of a stillbirth, to access an … Read more
Last week Birthrights joined with the White Ribbon Alliance, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and Make Birth Better, to submit evidence to the UN Special Rapporteur, about how pregnant women are treated in the UK. The UN Special Rapporteur, Ms. Dubravka Šimonović has identified the issue of mistreatment and violence against women during reproductive … Read more
Birthrights, the UK’s human rights in childbirth charity, and Leigh Day, a law firm specialising in clinical negligence and human rights, have announced a new partnership over three years, building on previous joint work on specific projects. The new agreement includes a package of corporate financial support, fundraising activity, pro bono and in-kind support, and … Read more
£30,000 pro rata – £15,000 actual per annum Deadline: 5pm on Monday 29 April Birthrights is looking for a new Legal Officer to help us achieve our mission. If you are a legal expert with strong knowledge of human rights law and maternity care in the UK, practical experience of litigation and a passion for … Read more
Birthrights research in 2013 and 2018 found disabled women reported poorer experiences of childbirth than other respondents. They told us they: received inadequate information about their choices more often than other women; were unhappier with the availability of pain relief; felt they had less choice and control over their birth experiences; felt that their rights were poorly … Read more
Birthrights research in 2013 and 2018 found disabled women reported poorer experiences of childbirth than other respondents. They told us they: received inadequate information about their choices more often than other women; were unhappier with the availability of pain relief; felt they had less choice and control over their birth experiences; felt that their rights were poorly … Read more
Birthrights has written once again to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) cautiously welcoming moves to review its policy of sending women who ask for a maternal request caesarean to other Trusts. Lawyers acting for Birthrights wrote to the Trust in July last year, asking detailed questions about how OUH responded to requests from … Read more
We were very saddened to hear last week about the imminent closure of Neighbourhood Midwives. Neighbourhood Midwives started out as a private, independent midwifery company, but were commissioned by Waltham Forest CCG to offer continuity of care, free of charge, to women as part of a two year pilot following “Better Births”. Neighbourhood Midwives have … Read more
Commenting on the findings of the CQC’s national maternity survey, Amy Gibbs, Chief Executive of Birthrights, said: “It’s positive that overall 88% of women surveyed felt they were ‘always’ treated with respect and dignity during labour and birth, but other findings highlight areas where maternity care is failing to respect women’s basic rights. “Every woman … Read more
Responding to the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan today, Amy Gibbs, Chief Executive of Birthrights, said: “We are really pleased to see improving maternity care at the heart of the NHS Long Term Plan, particularly the commitment that most women will receive continuity of carer by March 2021. We know that seeing the … Read more