A 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, birthing people, and families in England.

In Somerset, our Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate is Jane Innes, and she will be ensuring that women, birthing people, and families are listened to and heard following adverse outcomes, at any time during a pregnancy.

Her role is independent from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, reporting into NHS England and Somerset’s Integrated Care Board (NHS Somerset), but Jane works together with colleagues across teams such as maternity and neonatal, children and families, bereavement, and the trust’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).

The Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advisor roles have been introduced following the Immediate and Essential Actions identified in the Ockenden review into maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital. The recent reports and inquiries have identified a range of adverse outcomes that can occur during care, and so the roles will primarily be offering support to anyone that has experienced any of the following adverse outcomes:

• Baby has died before they were born, after 24 weeks of pregnancy
• Baby has died in the days or weeks after they were born
• Baby’s mother/birthing person has died
• Had an unexpected or unplanned removal of the womb (within 6 weeks of giving birth)
• Had an unexpected admission to the critical or intensive care unit
• Baby was diagnosed with a brain injury or a brain injury was suspected.

For more information on the service, the referral criteria and to access the referral form, please visit Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate – NHS Somerset.