The report showcases how the experiences of women, birthing people, partners and families are helping to influence improvements across maternity and neonatal care, from antenatal services and personalised care planning to postnatal support, patient safety and community engagement.
During the year, Kernow MNVP gathered insight from families through its annual maternity survey, community visits, family hubs, library sessions, engagement events, social media and partnership working. The team connected with hundreds of families across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, ensuring a wide range of voices helped inform local maternity and neonatal services.
One of the year’s key achievements was the continued rollout of Pregnancy Circles across Cornwall. Now embedded as part of the antenatal offer for Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, the programme provides group-based maternity care, helping families build relationships, access consistent support and receive information throughout pregnancy.
The report also highlights the success of the Porth Community Connections Group, developed for Global Majority families under the care of the Porth Midwifery Team. The project has helped reduce barriers to participation, tackle social isolation and create opportunities for families to directly influence service development and improvements.
Throughout the year, Kernow MNVP continued to strengthen its role in quality improvement and patient safety, working closely with Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, attending patient safety reviews, supporting learning processes and ensuring family experiences are considered in decision-making at every level.
The annual survey found that 96% of respondents rated their pregnancy care as average or above, with many praising the kindness, compassion and professionalism of maternity staff. Families particularly valued being treated with dignity, feeling listened to and receiving reassurance throughout their pregnancy journey.
The report also identifies opportunities for improvement, including continuity of care, postnatal support, breastfeeding support, communication between teams and better support for maternal physical and mental health after birth. Kernow MNVP continues to work alongside partners to ensure these experiences help drive meaningful change across local services.
Announcing the report, Nicki Burnett, Senior Lead of Kernow MNVP, said: “We are incredibly grateful to every family who has shared their experiences with us over the past year. Their voices are at the heart of everything we do and continue to shape maternity and neonatal services across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
“This report reflects the commitment of families, staff and partner organisations to work together to create services that are safe, personalised and kind. While there is much to celebrate, we know there is always more to learn, and we remain committed to ensuring every family’s experience helps drive improvement.”
NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly’s Medical Director, Richenda Mason, said: “This report highlights the valuable contribution of the Kernow Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership in ensuring that the experiences of women, birthing people, partners and families help shape our services. The Partnership’s comprehensive survey has provided valuable insights and by listening to this feedback, we can continue to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of maternity and neonatal care across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
“The Partnership’s work to engage with families, review services and develop community projects, along with the team’s involvement in patient safety is invaluable in ensuring that all families, regardless of background or circumstance, have the opportunity to be heard.”
Looking ahead, Kernow MNVP will continue to support local and national maternity improvement priorities, strengthen family participation in decision-making, and increase engagement with communities who may face barriers to accessing services or sharing their experiences.
More information
Read the full Kernow MNVP Annual Report 2025-26
Keep up-to-date with KMNVPs work or share your experience of local maternity services:
- Webpage Kernow Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership
- Subscribe to the KMNVP newsletter