1. Why a culture of collaboration,
openness, and transparency is essential
for a successful maternity service
Leigh Kendall FRSA
@leighakendall
@leighakendall #HSJpatientsafety

2. Hugo
@leighakendall #HSJpatientsafety

3. • HELLP syndrome at 24 weeks’
pregnant (rare, life-threatening
pregnancy complication – can cause
multiple organ failure unless baby is
born).
• My son Hugo weighed just 420
grams (about the same size as
a tin of baked beans)
• Hugo lived for 35 days.
• He was too small, and
premature. His treatment was
withdrawn.
@leighakendall #HSJpatientsafety

4. @leighakendall #HSJpatientsafety

5. Improving bereavement
information
@leighakendall #HSJpatientsafety

6. • Co-produced bid
to NHS England
Maternity
Challenge Fund
• Workshops at
Kingston and St
George’s
@leighakendall #HSJpatientsafety

7. @leighakendall #HSJpatientsafety

8. • Bereaved families are excluded from the
neonatal and maternity CQC surveys
• Attitudes are changing – National
Bereavement Pathway and new guidelines
released 2017.
@leighakendall #HSJpatientsafety

9. • I am white, middle class, and articulate (I
speak fluent NHS!)
• Even so, I have had to fight to get my voice
heard.
• Let’s make sure we include those seldom-
heard voices too.
@leighakendall #HSJpatientsafety