Listening to local families to improve maternity and neonatal care
The Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) recognises that listening to and responding to the voices of women and families is an essential part of safe, high-quality care. Compassionate listening improves the safety and experience of those using maternity and neonatal services and helps address health inequalities.
Our MNVP covers the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, and Newham, bringing together service users, healthcare professionals, and commissioners to work collaboratively towards better maternity and neonatal outcomes for all.
What We Do
MNVP collects feedback from local communities through a team of dedicated MNVP Chairs in each borough. All groups are heard, including bereaved families. MNVPs are embedded in strategic decision-making and have real influence on improving services.
We engage with parents and families using a variety of approaches to make participation as accessible as possible:
- Visiting children and community centres
- Maternity ward visits through Walk the Patch
- Participation in parent groups and local events
- Online surveys
Meet Your MNVP Chairs & Neonatal Lead
You can get in touch with us by email, social media, during our Walk the Patch visits, at quarterly events, or through our online survey.
Helena Morais
Waltham Forest MNVP Chair
Helena is a bereaved and earth-side mother who grew up in Waltham Forest. Her passion is to normalise difficult conversations in maternity, offering families transparency and permission to advocate for themselves. As a writing facilitator and birth and bereavement doula, she uses her lived experience to listen deeply and push for positive change.
As MNVP Chair, Helena works to bridge the gap between families and maternity services, ensuring all voices, especially those affected by trauma or underrepresented in care, are heard, valued, and acted upon.
Apshana Haque
Tower Hamlets MNVP Chair
Apshana’s background is in children’s mental health services, but her own maternity experience inspired her to become an MNVP member. That experience highlighted how difficult it can be for women, especially those from diverse communities, to have their voices heard.
As MNVP Chair, Apshana advocates for women to be actively involved in shaping their care, helping to ensure that maternity services are inclusive, responsive, and supportive for all.
Rina Begum
Newham MNVP Chair
Rina is a Newham resident, mum of two, and experienced childcare professional passionate about bridging the gap between service users and providers. Her own challenging maternity experiences motivated her to create positive change for other women.
She brings her knowledge of early years development and her commitment to inclusivity to the MNVP, empowering families to speak up and influence better maternity care for everyone.
Edvige Caci
Neonatal Lead
Edvige’s first daughter was born extremely premature, a life-changing experience that inspired her to support other families in neonatal care. She began volunteering in a neonatal unit and went on to complete training in coaching and group facilitation.
Now, she uses her personal insight and professional expertise to train healthcare professionals on working in partnership with parents. As Neonatal Lead, she ensures that family voices are central to improving neonatal services.
Get Involved in Your Local MNVP
We want to hear your experiences of maternity care during pregnancy, birth, and after:
- What was good?
- What wasn’t good?
- How could we make it better?
Your feedback shapes maternity and neonatal services. Whether online, in person, or at community events, we want to hear from you!
