Meet our Associate Trainers: Anna Nelson
Anna Nelson shares why she decided to become a Birthrights Associate Trainer.
Legal cases
Birthrights responds to the Ockenden review
Today (Wednesday 30 March) the long-awaited final report of Donna Ockenden’s review into maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust will be published. Amy Gibbs, Birthrights’ Chief Executive, said ‘It is devastating to hear the scale of deaths, injuries and trauma that might have been prevented at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust. Our thoughts … Read more
Two years on from the first lockdown
A few weeks ago, we were on the verge of launching a crowd-funding campaign to raise thousands of pounds to take Cwm Taf Health Board to court for keeping partners out of their maternity wards. The Birthrights team were working round the clock to put together our first ever crowdfunding campaign, and cancelling well deserved leave … Read more
Where are we with visiting restrictions in maternity services now?
Last week, a further letter before action was sent to Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board making clear that we do not regard one hour postnatal visiting for partners to be enough, and we await the Board’s full explanation of how this decision was reached. The law firm Irwin Mitchell wrote to Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board with a letter … Read more
Our top 12 highlights of 2021
Each December, we reflect as a team on our achievements – and this year we had the opportunity to do this in person, which was more magical than we could have imagined two years ago, before COVID-19 became a fixture in our daily lives. 2021 had the hallmarks of 2020 in many ways, starting with … Read more
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board legally challenged over stringent visiting restrictions
With our partners Irwin Mitchell LLP, Birthrights has today written to Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board with a letter of claim before judicial review, in response to their policy on visiting restrictions in antenatal and postnatal services. Restrictions currently include the exclusions of birth partners from inpatient antenatal and postnatal wards, and from outpatient … 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
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