Southwark Maternity Commission

Where to get local and national maternity care support

• Local maternity care support

  Children and Family centres provide advice and support for parents and carers You can use the service from pregnancy to when your child goes into reception class at primary school.

  Southwark's Family Early Help team provides a referral service and a helpline.

  Home-Start Southwark gives emotional and practical support to families having difficulties managing parenting.

  Parents and Communities Together (PACT) aims to improve health and development of young children in Walworth and Camberwell. It’s a community-led project led by charity Citizens UK, and includes groups such as:

  • Espacio Mama that offer legal and health-visitor support for Spanish speaking mothers and people who give birth (birthing people)
  • Black Maternal Voices is a safe space for Black women and people who give birth, to share experiences, empower each other, be heard, advocate for change and collaborate with other organisations

  Future Men provides courses for young, new and expectant dads. 

  Mind: Southwark Women's Forum is a monthly support group run by and for women who have experienced or are experiencing mental health challenges. 

• National maternity care support

  Bliss provides emotional and practical support for families with premature or sick babies.

  Sands supports families affected by pregnancy loss and the death of a baby. 

  Tommy’s provides information and support for anyone who has experienced the loss of a baby.

• Support for Black and Black Mixed-Heritage birthing people

  The Motherhood Group delivers events, training, counselling, doula support (usually a non-medical companion who can support you physically and emotionally throughout childbirth), legal services, national campaigns and culturally sensitive programmes for Black mothers.

  Five X More empowers Black women to make informed maternal health choices and speak up for themselves throughout their pregnancies and after childbirth.

  Mayah’s Legacy charity empowers and educates people affected by pregnancy loss with the tools they need to have their voices heard, which includes downloadable books, webinars and conversations.

  Motivational Mums Club provides free mental health sessions to people who are or are planning to be pregnant, or are mums. They work with healthcare organistions to improve mental health services. They specialise in helping people from ethnic minorities, who’ve had near-death experiences, birth trauma and more.

  Tommy’s: Specialist Support Helpline for Black and Black Mixed-Heritage women and people who give birth.

• Rights, complaints and feedback about maternity care

  Maternal Neonatal and Maternal Voices Partnerships (MNVPs)

  These NHS working groups include women, people who give birth and their families, commissioners and maternity service staff. They review and develop local maternity and neonatal care. They are led by an independent lay person who make sure residents who use maternity care are represented.

  • Guy's and St Thomas’ Maternal Neonatal and Maternal Voices Partnerships
  • King’s College Hospital Maternal Neonatal and Maternal Voices Partnerships

  Birthrights champions the rights of women and people who give birth across the UK and offers advice.

  Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) offer confidential advice, support and information on health. The following are local services for Southwark:

  • Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust: pals@gstt.nhs.uk
  • King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: kch-tr.PALS@nhs.net
  • South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust: pals@slam.nhs.uk

Page last updated: 02 May 2024