Evaluating maternity and neonatal services in Dorset

Dorset MNVP regularly carry out ’15 Steps’ and ‘Walk the Patch’ visits to Dorset’s maternity and neonatal services to observe and evaluate the care environments and staff interactions from a service users’ perspective, and to gather service user feedback. They share their findings and recommendations with those responsible for delivering and improving services.

15 Steps to quality care

During the 15 Steps visits Dorset MNVP use the NHS England toolkit to observe and record first impressions, and identify strengths and areas for improvement under the following themes:

• Welcoming and informative
• Safe and clear
• Friendly and personal
• Organised and calm

Throughout the year they aim to carry out 15 Steps visits to all maternity and neonatal service areas across the Dorset NHS Trusts. During these visits they have identified many suggestions for improvements, which they shared with the Trusts to guide their ongoing programme of improvement for services users. This includes, for example, the addition of staff photo boards and increased patient information displayed throughout maternity departments.

Walk the Patch visits

Dorset MNVP use these monthly visits to gather feedback directly from people attending antenatal and postnatal wards, and they also visit Special Care Baby Units and Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

Dorset MNVP report feedback to the Head of Midwifery and the management team at each Trust. Where required, we suggest improvements and work with the team to implement changes. We also share positive feedback to ensure staff are recognised for the good care they have given.

Making sure you have the information you need

The Maternity Matters Dorset NHS website aims to provide people with a wide range of useful information about pregnancy, birth, and all aspects of maternity and neonatal services and support in Dorset.

Dorset MNVP worked with NHS Dorset to co-produce content for the website and they continue to be involved to ensure content is up-to-date and easy to use.

In 2022, Dorset MNVP reviewed the website and identified areas that needed additional information to enable all service users to make informed choices about their care. They are working with maternity staff to develop content to close these information gaps.

Dorset MNVP are also helping to produce patient information on a range of topics to make sure it is clear and accessible.

Finding out what matters most to you

In 2022, Dorset MNVP asked those who use and deliver maternity and neonatal care in the county, to share their views about local services; over 270 people completed our survey.

Dorset MNVP analysed and reviewed the responses to inform their work plan and priorities, and they discussed the findings with senior staff at Dorset’s NHS Trusts to highlight areas and issues that need to be addressed.

Our work plan 2023-24

Dorset MNVP is seeking to connect and engage with more people from across Dorset, including harder to reach communities. And is building relationships and collaboration between service users, commissioners, clinicians, charities and voluntary groups, through involvement in many ongoing projects, working groups and meetings, including around strategy, governance, safety and equality.

Find out more and get involved

Using our online forms, share your views and experiences about any aspect of maternity and neonatal care in Dorset, or if you would like to get involved as a volunteer with our work  or by attending one of our regular meetings.