Wednesday 19 March 2008

Association of Radical Midwives - Staffordshire and Shropshire

I addressed this local ARM meeting. They are midwives, student midwives and others in the UK committed to improving the maternity care provided by the NHS. They strongly believe that all women have the right to a service tailored more closely to their needs, and a sympathetic attitude on the part of their professional attendants. They are primarily a support group for people having difficulty in getting or giving good, sympathetic, personalised midwifery care. A few of them are working independently outside the NHS, in order to offer a more woman-centred, one-to-one, style of practice, which at present is not widely available within NHS maternity services. There are contacts and/or local groups all around UK, as well as several overseas members.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5206939069


I gave my presentation about my story, the effects of poor perinatal mental health and some hints and tips of what really matters to mums.

They were a lovely group and made me feel very welcome - thank you! Two ladies brought along their partners, one of whom was a policeman. He suggested that the police could do to listen to me too as they have little or training in dealing with people in mental distress. He felt it may help them to have a more understanding approach. Any police contacts for training out there?

It was good to see so many student midwives so passionate about making a real difference to the mothers-to-be and helping them through their experiences with dignity and care. What a disgrace when some of the newly trained ones are still not in a post yet wards are crying out for them! What is going on out there??

Keep up the good work!

Elaine

www.elainehanzak.co.uk


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It was truly a pleasure to meet you Elaine as an author, speaker, woman, wife and mother you are a true inspiration to so many of us. Thank you so much for everything.

Claire