Royal Berkshire Maternity and Neonatal Voices

12/11/2025

Closing in a weeks time!

We are recruiting for Parent and Community Engagement Leads to join the team to gather feedback within the community and input into key projects to improve maternity services.
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We're looking for people passionate about the work we do, they will be good communicators (and listeners!) and understand the importance Service User voice holds.

The role is on average 15 hours a month, there are opportunities to work less hours or more hours if you have availability, especially in the first six months.

We pay £20 per hour, on a self employed basis.

Take a look at our website for more info: https://www.royalberkshiremnvp.org/engagement-lead-role

If you have any questions about the role, about being self employed, or need more information or help with the application form, drop us a DM or email - always happy to chat.

To register your interest please complete the Google Form here:

https://forms.gle/EUVXFicQb92YGH6a7

Utulivu Women's Group Reading Community Learning Centre Healthwatch Reading Healthwatch Wokingham Borough Healthwatch West Berkshire Refugee Support Group Reading Council West Berkshire Family Hub - West West Berkshire Family Hub - East West Berkshire Family Hub - Central Brighter Futures for Children Reading Children's Centres Wokingham Children's Centres

12/11/2025

Neonatal babies and families have a unique and often challenging start to life.

Thank you to BIBS (Babies in Buscot Support) for sharing the story of 'Baby B', we appreciate the opportunity to celebrate the journey for Baby B and their family.

And the phenomenonal work of all the Buscot team 💜💜💜

💜 Buscot Graduate Story 💜

Baby B recently graduated from Buscot. Here her mum shares their journey…

“It all began when I was diagnosed with severe early onset preeclampsia. This meant that our baby ‘B’ would be born premature and growth restricted. Buscot were aware and prepped for her arrival. Our journey took us to Oxford and back, with Buscot nurses welcoming us home with open arms. B had been diagnosed with severe chronic lung disease which meant that her journey would be long and bumpy. After a series of infections, weeks on CPAP and another trip to Oxford, B spent double the amount of time in hospital than originally expected.

BIBS has been a fantastic help in both emotional support from their Family Support Worker, Sammy, and buying equipment for the babies and families. I can say first hand that the mattresses in the flats are very good and do help with the restless nights when living on the ward!

B was 5 months old when she was discharged and is one of Buscot’s longest running members. It is with great joy and sadness that we went home. The love and care our family received from Buscot during a very stressful time kept us going. The team are incredibly empathetic to what the parents are going through and always make time for families to be heard. They say it takes a village and for us that village is Buscot.” ✨

If you’d like to help BIBS be there to support more families like Baby B’s, then you can set up monthly donations via our JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/charity/bibsbabies 😃

Thank you so much 💜💜💜

12/11/2025

Jaundice in babies with darker skin tones can be more difficult to spot, it is important to trust your instincts, if you are unsure get your baby checked.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain in being assured that your baby is well. If they are not they can access the correct care as quickly as possible.

If your baby is reviewed and you are told that they do not have jaundice, but you see no change, things appear worse, or you are still sure that something is wrong, please ask for a second opinion.

It is important to have accurate and reliable information, and timely access to the correct advice and guidance when we suspect jaundice.

If in doubt, please speak to your Midwife, your Health Visitor or GP. Don't delay. If you go to your GP you will need an urgent appointment.

Royal Berkshire NHS Maternity Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust Royal Berkshire Maternity: Homebirth Team Utulivu Women's Group Reading Community Learning Centre Refugee Support Group Reading Council Healthwatch West Berkshire Healthwatch Wokingham Borough Healthwatch Reading

11/11/2025

Ever thought about birthing at home? Does having a small team of midwives throughout your pregnancy, birth and postnatal care appeal to you? These informal coffee mornings are a chance to meet the midwives, speak to others who have had a homebirth - plus we can also vouch for the yummy cakes 🧁

✨️☕️Coffee and chat✨️☕️

We can't wait to see everyone tomorrow at our coffee morning

Come along anytime between 0930-1100, we can personally guarantee the cake quality! 😋🍰☕

These mornings are for anyone interested in homebirth, currently being cared for by our team, or if you were previously looked after by the team! 🏡

07/11/2025

We recognise that the care with best outcomes is family centred.
We welcome this news.
We have a partners survey for any birthing partner who would like to share their experiences of maternity and neonatal care.

Royal Berkshire NHS Maternity1001 Critical Days FoundationRoyal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust Reading Community Learning Centre Healthwatch Reading Healthwatch West Berkshire Healthwatch Wokingham Borough Refugee Support Group

A big step forward for father-inclusive care.

NHS England has announced that from December, it will begin adding fathers and second parents to babies' health records using data from birth registrations.

It might sound like a small change, but it’s a hugely significant one. For the first time, the NHS will formally recognise that dads’ health, just like mums', is deeply connected to their babies' wellbeing.

Until now, a baby’s health record has been automatically linked to their mum’s records but not their dad’s. This new move marks an important first step towards a more complete picture of family health.

"We know that outcomes for babies are best when they are supported by a network of loving adults. Dads are an important part of that picture, but until now they haven’t been formally recognised on their baby’s health record. This announcement might sound technical, but for babies and their families it marks a vital step forward."
-Dr Matt Price, Director of Research & Grants, 1001 Critical Days Foundation

Huge thanks to Samantha Callan OBE and Lord Farmer for revealing this milestone via a Parliamentary Question https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-10-13/hl10891

At The 1001 Critical Days Foundation, we’ll continue our work to improve how "dad data" is collected, shared and used, because better data means better engagement, support and safeguarding for families.

06/11/2025

06/11/2025

It was lovely to see so many of you at the Rushey Open Doors today… as promised here are a couple of posts with videos and photos so you can see what the Delivery Suite looks like…

04/11/2025

💙 Dorcas, a maternity nurse Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, shares why the BCG vaccine is so important for your baby. This vaccine protects against Tuberculosis (TB) - a serious bacterial infection which can affect the lungs and other parts of your body.
👉 www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/bcg-vaccine-for-tuberculosis-tb/

(Linked in our stories)

04/11/2025

Given birth this year? Have you shared your feedback with us? We need you! We'll shortly be closing our surveys temporarily to prepare for our upcoming meeting.

There are over 4000 births at the Royal Berkshire Hospital every year which means that over 2000 of you have used the services since our last survey closed!! We'd love to hear from each and every family about your experience. It takes less than 10 minutes to complete and really helps inform our work and drive changes within maternity and neonatal services. Please follow the link, scan the QR code or jump on our profile for an easy link. We are hear to listen, to respond and to act on YOUR FEEDBACK.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/currentfeedback

Our inbox is also open, always.

03/11/2025

03/11/2025

Following on from our 'you are not a nuisance' theme and contact with the Maternity Triage Line at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

We want to hear what you think about, and what your experiences are of, the Maternity Triage Line at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Your feedback (completely anonymous) will be used to review the service, and improve access and quality of experience where needed.

We have a very short survey that takes around 3 minutes to complete, we welcome your feedback.

Please click link to survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/triageline

Please share widely, it is important that as many families as possible have a say in changes that will be made.

All feedback is completely anonymous.

Royal Berkshire NHS Maternity Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust Utulivu Women's Group Healthwatch West Berkshire Healthwatch Wokingham Borough Healthwatch Reading Reading Council Reading Community Learning Centre Refugee Support Group Parents And Children Together - PACT BIBS (Babies in Buscot Support) Support U Wokingham Borough

27/10/2025

One for any of our Wokingham parents or parents to be!

We are delighted to announce that we are launching “Early Days”, a new free parent and baby group starting on 4 November and running for 6 weeks every Tuesday 1-2.30pm at Earley Crescent. It will be a relaxed, fun and friendly group providing a chance to connect with other parents and share your parenting experiences with each other. To join the group go to link in bio or email katy@home-startwd.org.uk 💜