Inequalities in maternity healthcare – a panel discussion

An online event to highlight the inequalities faced in maternity healthcare by women from Black and Asian backgrounds will be hosted by the University of Reading, in partnership with the Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust (RBFT), on Thursday 23 March.

Changing the Face of the Maternity Experiences for Women and Birthing People from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Groups has been organised by the Parent and Family Network at the University and is open to everybody to attend.

The event has been organised in response to issues raised by women and families impacted within Black and Asian communities, and findings published in several national reports.

It will feature a number of women sharing their own lived experiences regarding maternity healthcare. The panel will also include a community researcher from the University and professionals from Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust and other voluntary organisations. These are:

• Alice Mpofu-Coles, University of Reading (event chair) – Alice’s research focuses on using participatory action research initiatives to improve the lives of marginalised groups in society. She also works with the Dean for Diversity & Inclusion at the University.
• Natasha Allen, Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust - Natasha has been leading the Maternity Equity Strategy at RBFT for the last two years, focusing on improving maternity services for those most likely to have the poorest outcomes.
• Evangeline Karanja, Utulivu Women’s Group - Utulivu Women’s Group is a specialist women’s organisation that supports Black, Asian, minority ethnic and refugee women, girls, and their families in Reading and surrounding areas to ensure they have equal access to opportunities and resources.

Additional panellists include: Bernice Boore, Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust; Alice Kunjappy-Clifton, Health Watch; and Cecily Mwaniki, NHS. 

Alice Mpofu-Coles, a community researcher from the University of Reading and chair of the event, said: “The right to a good standard of maternity care that provides dignity and respect is for all. Women from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds sadly continue to face discrimination and inequalities in maternity care.

“The Parent and Family Network at the University of Reading has organised an online event to put the women who have faced difficulties in maternity care at the forefront and to speak about their experiences. We welcome panellists from the Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust and other voluntary organisations as we seek to highlight these important issues and discuss what action is needed to improve the experiences of women from these communities.”

Natasha Allen, Transformation Project Lead Midwife at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust says: “We have a duty in healthcare to actively breakdown the barriers that women from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds experience when attempting to access maternity care. This event gives space to women to talk about their experiences and for us in healthcare to really listen, so we can address equity and inequalities in a meaningful way.”

Event details

Date: Thursday 23 March

Time: 12.30-2pm

Join online: https://msteams.link/RZW7

All welcome.

Further information about the event can be found online.