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Latest News
Birthrights appoints interim Chief Executive (maternity cover)
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Angela Style as interim Chief Executive, to cover Amy Gibbs’ upcoming maternity leave. Angela will join the team on 2 December and lead Birthrights until Amy returns to work in early September 2020. Angela has over 20 years’ experience in the voluntary sector, working for organisations including Diabetes … Read more
Birthrights’ concerns about mental capacity and human rights in maternity care
In recent months, the Court of Protection has ruled on a number of cases permitting doctors to carry out Caesarean sections on women against their wishes, either because they lack capacity to make the decision for themselves, or because their healthcare providers are worried that they might lose capacity during labour. In one recent case … Read more
Council of Europe passes motion on obstetric and gynaecological violence
We welcome the motion passed earlier this month by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe calling on all member states (including the UK) to address obstetric and gynaecological violence . The motion includes ensuring maternity care respects human rights, appropriate training for staff, passing legislation on informed consent (where not in place already), … Read more
Birthrights and Irwin Mitchell announce three-year partnership to promote women’s human rights in childbirth
Birthrights, the UK’s human rights in childbirth charity, and Irwin Mitchell, one of the largest law firms in the UK, have announced a new partnership over three years. The new agreement includes a package of corporate funding, pro bono advice, practical in-kind help with publications and events, and support for Birthrights’ projects, research and campaigns, … Read more
Birthrights names Nadine Montgomery as charity’s first Patron
Birthrights is delighted to announce Nadine Montgomery as our first ever Patron. As a public ambassador for Birthrights, Nadine will continue her work to champion women’s autonomy and consent in childbirth, supporting our communications and campaigns, training for healthcare professional and high-level events. See our press release for more information. In 2015, the Montgomery v … Read more
Why we need to have more honest conversations with women about how birth might unfold…
The National Maternity and Perinatal Audit (NMPA) clinical report 2019 was published last week and it makes for intriguing reading. For us at Birthrights, the report starts to provide some answers to questions we have been interested in for some time, for instance – is the focus on reducing the stillbirth rate driving up intervention … Read more
Human rights concerns as Court permits Caesarean on woman currently with mental capacity
On Monday the Guardian reported on a Court of Protection ruling that permits doctors to perform a Caesarean section on a woman in case she loses capacity, against her express wishes. Birthrights has not yet seen the full judgment, however the reporting raises a number of very worrying questions about the process and its impact … Read more
Recruiting for an interim Chief Executive (maternity cover)
Our Chief Executive, Amy Gibbs, is expecting her second baby in January 2020, so we’re looking for an experienced, passionate charity leader to fulfil her role for 9 months, starting mid-December 2019. This is a brilliant opportunity to lead our small, impactful team and champion human rights in childbirth, at an exciting time for Birthrights. … Read more
Do you have experience of significant harm in maternity care?
Birthrights is involved in an important research study about open disclosure in maternity care that is currently looking for lay Steering Group members. Birthrights Programmes Director, Maria Booker, is a co-investigator on the study (called DISCERN), led by Kings College London, looking at why some NHS Trusts are particularly good at being open with women … Read more
Tickets for new Birthrights training workshops are now on sale…
Birthrights are delighted to be offering a new series of training workshops open to individuals doctors, midwives and others working with pregnant women and their families. We are running workshops in London on the 18th October and in Halifax on the 18th November where we will be exploring questions such as : – Can safe … Read more
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