Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate (MNISA)
The NHS England Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate Pilot aims to help women, birthing people and families to be listened to and heard by their maternity and neonatal care providers following an adverse outcome at any time during a pregnancy.
The Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate (also referred to as Maternity and Neonatal ISA or MNISA) is a new senior role being piloted to support women and families in England. This follows the Immediate and Essential Actions identified in the Ockenden review into maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital. The Independent Senior Advocate role is independent enough to have autonomy to act for others, senior enough to be able to effectively raise issues at Trust and LMNS board level and has the ability to advocate for women and their families when they cannot do so themselves.
Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocates help ensure the voices of women, birthing people and families are listened to, heard and acted upon by their maternity and neonatal care providers when they have experienced an adverse outcome during their maternity and/or neonatal care.
This senior role was co-produced by NHS England working alongside maternity and neonatal service users and staff.
For more information on the service, the referral criteria and to access the referral form, please visit www.nhsglos.nhs.uk/link/maternityadvocacy