Feedback from Sandra Guise MSLC Co-chair in West Cumbria

You came with clear purpose and gave positive leadership to modernise midwifery led care here.  You did this in a financially and geographically challenged health economy, a difficult environment to work in at a time of uncertainty about future services predominating.  After literally years of service reviews that largely focused on obstetric rotas, I don't think I can recollect any other period in the years I have been involved in maternity services where there was such a clear intent to develop midwifery care for women here. You were the change catalyst.  You invested in us and you did this with positive energy and compassion. Vitally you advocated on behalf of midwives and women for quality, and made strides on that front.  I feel the commissioner respected your views on quality, and is following more closely all aspects of maternity services.

You connected, midwives, managers and user representatives to the maternity world so that we are less isolated, more aware of developments elsewhere, have greater expectations of our services and are more supported by the positive energy that can provide mutual support from outside.  Importantly you stimulated professionals to empower them to revisit their practice and re-kindle their midwifery passions through visits and workshops and the power of twitter (sadly the local tweeting seems reduced since you have left) . The Physiological Birth Study Day was inspiring, Jenny Clarke (JennyTheM) and skin to skin and ladders I shall always remember, and Rhona's measured calm was almost hypnotic. Such a wonderful blend of home grown and national level inspiration and that homey groundedness of caring for each other on the journey that you brought together through positive connections.

The MSLC now has a Facebook page, something you encouraged.  The getting users talking with other users about their birth experiences on Facebook etc will develop.  When I personallyreflect on your impact, well you got me started on Twitter,  it would be still be on the to do list if you had not sat there and got me started; and that in turn has connected me better to others to increase dialogue and support and to keep learning and listening and re evaluating.  I think I have learnt from you as a role model that there is more energy in positive language, the importance of making positive connections.  Sometimes by necessity as an advocate we are driven to defend rather than grow change, but we don't want to get stuck there, because we might actually miss out on something better and much more sustainable!

I don't feel you have left us alone with challenges ahead, and they are great still here, but we are not as beleaguered as before, but more sure that what we feel is right, respect for human dignity and the birth process should be strived for.

April 2016