Jessica's Trust

British maternity wards in crisis

Ben Palmer — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:26:47 +0000

Some very bleak reading, particularly in light of the recent CMACE report, Saving Mothers' Lives 2006-2008 which tells that sepsis now outranks even pre-eclampsia and eclampsia as the leading direct cause of maternal death. Deaths due to sepsis have risen from 18 in 2003-05 to 26 in 2006-08* - a staggering 44%. Is it any wonder that [...]

No.10 has responded to our petition. Or has it?

Ben Palmer — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:10:07 +0000

The Number 10 e-Petitions website has responded to the Maternal Health petition. Or has it? The response considerately quotes paragraphs from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline Routine postnatal care of women and their babies (2006) which sets out what should happen. It then quotes the Saving Mothers’ Lives report from [...]

Maternal deaths are an outrage

Ben Palmer — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:18:55 +0000

"In the 21st century, no woman should have to give her life to give life." U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (Reuters 19 May) "We must find a way to get maternal mortality recognized as a key indicator of a functioning health system. Let us work together to make sure maternal mortality is a problem of the [...]

What is the point of twittering anyway?

Ben Palmer — Sun, 10 May 2009 07:34:49 +0000

It's not all rubbish that's spouted on twitter, despite whatever your newspaper may say! Amongst conversation, debate and information sharing, there is an army of supporters on twitter who pass on messages and information about the Jessica's Trust campaign – often tagged with the #maternalhealth hashtag – and some of them are adept at bringing [...]

Look at the bigger picture

Ben Palmer — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:17:16 +0000

Click the picture to enlarge it, then please sign our petition, if you haven't already. http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/maternalhealth/

MEOWS: Recommended

Ben Palmer — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:46:53 +0000

I spend a lot of time campaigning for the national use of Modified Obstetric Early Warning System (MEOWS) chart, and indeed I was in Oxford yesterday talking to some midwifery students about their use, and the difference they would almost certainly have made to Jessica. Not everybody always immediately shares my enthusiasm for them. I've [...]

'Midwife numbers to fall short'

Ben Palmer — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:50:18 +0000

With a weariness I read today yet another story about midwifery staffing levels falling short of the number required for the government to meet it's own declared standard of care. BBC: Midwife numbers 'to fall short' I've said it before, and I expect I'll say it again; please look after our mums properly. The fact [...]

Mrs Brown gives away a free plug

Ben Palmer — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:41:17 +0000

I've been away from here for a little bit too long, with school holidays, work etc. I've also been concentrating on micro-blogging. Just the other day I discovered that Sarah Brown had joined Twitter. As well as being Mrs G. Brown, she is a strong advocate of women's health in the developing world. Knowing this, [...]

Life saving treatment wanted asap

Ben Palmer — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:59:25 +0000

I'm not just blogging blindly; I'm interested in what other people think and say, and I also am interested in how people find this website, and where people are linking to it. I watch referring sites in my log stats, and often visit back. It was in this way that I came across a parenting [...]

Topic for discussion

Ben Palmer — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:32:42 +0000

Maternal death is too uncomfortable a topic for discussion. Please discuss in the comments.