Local maternity service recognised with national award
10 November, 2014
The Institute of Health Visiting and City Health Care Partnership CIC (CHCP CIC), Hull have been awarded runners-up at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Maternity (APPGM) which celebrates excellence in care for parents and their babies in the First 1,000 Days.
The Hull unit was one of ten outstanding services from across the country to be recognised at the First 1,000 Days awards ceremony hosted by David Amess, MP at the House of Commons on Wednesday 5th November.
The team was awarded runners up in the category for ‘Best example of a perinatal mental health service’. By effectively working together the iHV and CHCP CIC have ensured all health visitors in Hull are confident at providing quality perinatal mental health services through participating in high quality education and training. As a result of the scheme, trained health visitors detect problems earlier, manage mild to moderate perinatal mental illness and enable timely access to PNMH services for families who require additional support.
Melita Walker, health visitor at City Health Care Partnership and member of the Institute of Health Visiting who has been a driving force behind the project, said, “An important part of our scheme is early intervention. It means perinatal mental health problems are detected early and families are seen more quickly than before. The team are proud of the work we do and are thrilled to be recognised with an award from the APPGM.”
Michelle Smith, operational service director for children and young people’s services at CHCP CIC, said, “We are delighted that this project has received such high-level recognition. Our health visiting team is working with our Let’s Talk mental health service to provide the best possible perinatal mental health support for women who need it.”
The APPGM, which is serviced by the National Childbirth Trust, is a cross-party group led by David Amess MP. Its aim is to highlight maternity issues within Parliament to ensure that new parents have access to the services and support they need.
