This event promises to take a solutions based approach to tackling the poor maternal experiences of Black women. We are coming together as a community with NHS leaders and other agencies to improve care for ourselves anticipating motherhood or to improve care for others.

This International Women’s day event not only celebrates women but also focuses our attention to the maternity care received by Black Women.

The data highlights that Black Women are:

• 5 times more likely to die in childbirth or shortly after childbirth than any other population group and have complications as a result of their pregnancy
• They are also more likely to have still born babies and babies that are smaller and have complications in early infancy.

What we do not know is the number of complications and challenges Black women and their babies experience during their total maternity experience.

This collaborative event brings a range of agencies together to improve maternal care for Black women. The event is delivered in partnership with statutory and community organisations and there will be opportunities for ongoing solution-based actions to bring about the changes we want to see.

Panel members and speakers will consist of a range of stakeholders from across the statutory, voluntary and community sector. We will also hear from Black women with lived experiences of maternity care so that lessons can be learnt to inform future decisions.