Marsha Jones with David Cameron.

When PM David Cameron met Newham midwife Marsha

by Colin Grainger , Editor Sunday, July 8, 2012
5:00 PM

An award-winning midwife was honoured this week as she got a visit to meet the Prime Minister.

Matron Marsha Jones kick started her Mary Seacole award winning project with the trip to Number 10 Downing Street.

The Prime Minister, who was keen to hear about new ways of improving health outcomes, invited Marsha, a matron within the Newham Maternity Department, along with the other five Mary Seacole Award 2011 winners from around the UK to meet with him to discuss their proposals.

Marsha was able to tell the PM first hand of her plans to improve the health outcomes for women from black and minority ethnic communities at the Newham Maternity Unit.

Marsha scooped the award for her project, which aims to improve the experience of postnatal care for black and Asian women coming to the hospital.

With the project about to start its research phase, Marsha is keen to involve women across Newham by getting feedback on the experience of the postnatal care they have received.

Marsha said: “Current NHS policies such as the NHS constitution set out the aim of improving the patient experience by putting patients at the centre of their care and ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect. Patient feedback is of vital importance in order to make real and meaningful improvements to services.

“The project started on Monday and will look at whether we meet our users’ expectations of their postnatal care. Women who are admitted to the maternity department will be asked if they wish to take part in the project.

“The research findings will provide vital data to help us understand the views of our service users and improve the experience for women coming to Newham.”

Public Health Minister Anne Milton said: These awards have a long standing history of recognising and encouraging future leaders in the NHS. That’s what we want to see – putting patients first and showing by example what can be achieved.”