What are MNVPs
Nationally, Maternity and Neonatal Voice Partnerships (MNVPs) are parent-led, independent advisory groups of volunteer service user representatives and professionals who help improve local maternity and neonatal care.
MNVPs work together on all parts of maternity and neonatal care, from pre-conception, pregnancy and birth to six months after birth. Key topics include perinatal mental health, infant feeding support, neonatal care, bereavement support and choice and personalisation.
Service user representatives include people who have recently used local maternity and neonatal services, those with an interest in improving maternity and neonatal care and others who work with pregnant and new parents, for example providing antenatal classes, doula services and other support. The key role of service user representatives is to listen to the diverse views and experiences of women, their partners and families and ensure their feedback is heard and listened to.
The professional members include commissioners, local authority staff working in public health and those providing maternity and neonatal care, including midwives and community staff, obstetricians and health visitors. We are also supported by local Healthwatch groups, voluntary and charity groups, healthcare professionals providing specialist services and GPs. We also work closely with the Yorkshire and Humber Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (ODN), with one of our local Neonatal Leads being directly involved in co-producing their Neonatal transfer animation.
Our local MNVP Leads are active in their communities and also attend regional events, meetings, training and workshops. In July 2024, we were invited to present to the Humber and North Yorkshire's Integrated Care Board's annual conference for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals staff and more recently in May 2025, some of our neurodivergent and migrant service user representatives were invited to speak at the Humber and North Yorkshire Belonging and Inclusion in Maternity and Neonatal Care Conference.
Co-production is a key driver of MNVP work and this involves the people using services being involved when developing or changing services which is a key part of Better Births.
