Formal NHS partner calls for better maternal and newborn care through equitable access

A formal NHS Scotland partner is backing World Health Day aims by insisting that innovation has a key role to play in realising global equity of access to high quality healthcare for women and babies.

Celebrated on 7 April 2025, this year’s World Health Day focused on maternal and newborn health with a campaign entitled ‘Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures’.

Part of the World Health Day campaign saw governments and the health community urged to reinvigorate efforts to ensure equity of access to high quality healthcare by investing in “proven, high-impact interventions”.

InnoScot Health works closely with NHS Scotland innovators and believes that fresh health service ideas, ranging from new technology to simple adaptations in approach, can be essential in not only improving the short and long-term health of babies, but also to enhance families’ overall experience. It is hosting a free, educational webinar on Wednesday 30 April entitled ‘Aiming for better lifelong outcomes from birth through enhanced innovation’ that will encourage NHS forward-thinkers to think both progressively and inclusively.

The ‘lunch and learn’ session from 12.00-12.45 will be presented by Regulatory Project Manager Paula Sweeten.

She will be joined by guest speaker Neil Patel, Consultant Neonatologist and Clinical Innovation Director at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children who will talk about, and lend his insights, on how equitable innovation can help to provide the best possible care from the first precious moments of life.

The neonatal-focused webinar will align with World Health Day aims, representing a great opportunity to:

• Delve into the forefront of neonatal care in Scotland, exploring cutting-edge advancements, and best practices
• Exchange knowledge and discuss the direction of travel for neonatology care
• Take away practical calls to action that help attendees apply what they have learnt

Paula will offer an overview of InnoScot Health’s developmental support, its commercialisation process, and how it is continuing to work in close collaboration with partners on two new projects, Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (By Stacey)™ and the Hug Holster.

Paula said: “Our April webinar aims to offer both inspiration for the NHS Scotland workforce on what can be achieved in neonatal care when the right knowledge and support is combined, as well as an insight into success stories and how they are achieved.

“We have a significant opportunity to work collaboratively to improve care with new ideas and solutions, whether simple or complex.

“Workforce innovators with breakthrough ideas can be the difference that makes for improved patient outcomes.”

World Health Day organiser, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says improvements must be aimed at early complication detection, lifesaving emergency obstetric care – recognising that most maternal and newborn deaths occur during or shortly after birth – and better specialised care for small and premature babies.

It states: “Women and families everywhere need high quality care that supports them physically and emotionally, before, during, and after birth.”

The WHO says that up to one in five women experience postnatal depression or anxiety. Last year, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) released new guidelines for perinatal mental health, supporting both clinicians and parents with the aim of improving care and reducing stigma.

A consultant perinatal psychiatrist and co-chair of the HIS guideline development group, Dr Selena Gleadow-Ware said mothers experiencing mental health problems during or after pregnancy is a “surprisingly common” occurrence.

She added: “We know that it’s also difficult to reach out for help, and many are worried about coming forward.

“Unfortunately, there’s still a lot of stigma and fear that if they open up, they will be judged, and perhaps people will think they’re an unfit mother or parent.

“We’re hoping this will help women have access to information and recognise there is support out there and they can get better.”

World Health Day echoes that sentiment, stating: “This is due to hormonal changes. If these feelings become especially intense and/or persist beyond two weeks, seek advice.

“All women have the right to a safe and positive pregnancy, birth, and postnatal experience where they are treated with dignity and respect.”

Head of Project Management at InnoScot Health, Gillian Henderson, pictured,  said: “We fully support the message that the health of mothers and babies is the foundation of healthy families and communities, and this vital WHO focus helps to ensure hopeful futures for us all.

“We agree that global investment is required to prevent maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritise longer-term health and wellbeing for mothers and babies – but believe an onus should be placed on innovation as an enabler to help affect that positive transformation.

“In order to bring about ‘proven, high-impact interventions’, innovation in this area – identified and accelerated by new thinking drawn from diverse NHS expertise – can help to bring about the breakthroughs we need.

“Innovation can also offer greater equity of access if delivered correctly to communities, in turn supporting efforts to bridge the gender health gap.

“It’s not just about realising improvements up to and during birth. It’s also about ensuring access to health providers at all times, improving the rights of women and girls everywhere so they can better protect their health and wellbeing on a long-term basis.”

The WHO says that complications from prematurity have become the leading cause of death among children under five worldwide.

It also states that, based on current trends, four out of five countries are off track to meet targets for improving maternal survival by 2030.

Gillian continued: “We applaud the World Health Day aim of ‘ensuring that every mother and baby not only survive but thrive’.

“InnoScot Health believes that targeted innovation drawing on the unique knowledge and insight of NHS staff can help to meet those needs.

“With the right support and advice, incredible advances can be made by NHS Scotland’s agents of change, producing lifechanging improvements for mothers, babies, and families.”

InnoScot Health is proud of its track record in this area, continuing to encourage the submission of pregnancy and perinatal care ideas, and recently launching a drive to engage midwives, nurses, and allied health professionals (AHPs).

Source: InnoScot Health

Image: Head of Project Management at InnoScot Health, Gillian Henderson. Credit: InnoScot Health

Staff Writer