Baby Lifeline will join twelve other pregnancy, baby, and parent charities in giving evidence as a Core Participant to Module Three of the Covid-19 Inquiry. The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has been set up to examine the UK’s response to and impact of the pandemic, and learn lessons for the future.
We will assist the Inquiry in understanding the impact of the pandemic on early pregnancy, antenatal, intrapartum, postnatal and neonatal services and the ongoing legacy of Covid-19 on those services.
The participating charities all have unique insights into the impact of the pandemic on pregnancy, neonatal, intrapartum, baby loss and bereavement care. The participation in the Inquiry will represent the voices of those impacted, identify failings and deterioration in the quality of care, and ensure that mistakes are not repeated in any future emergencies, should they arise.
During the pandemic Baby Lifeline set up a Covid-19 Advice Hub which took the evidence-based guidance from the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and put it into easy-to-understand, positive messaging for women, birthing people, and their partners. The charity also carried out research into the ongoing continuing professional development for maternity professionals during the pandemic. A key finding from this research was that the Covid-19 pandemic widened already existing gaps in training for this group.
Head of Research and Development, Sara Ledger, says:
“Our work and research during the pandemic highlighted that gaps that existed before Covid-19 widened greatly during the pandemic, creating detrimental short and long-term impact for mothers, birthing people, babies, and healthcare professionals working in maternity and neonatal services.
We are, therefore, pleased to be involved in the Covid-19 Inquiry alongside twelve other charities giving a voice to those affected, and ensuring that recommendations for change and considerations for the future include maternity and neonatal services.”