Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of effectiveness of Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships (MNVP), including Oxfordshire MNVP in representing the experience of mothers and families.

Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships (MNVPs) ensure that the voices of service users are central to decision-making within maternity and neonatal services. An MNVP listens to the experiences of women and families, and brings together service users, staff, and other stakeholders to plan, review, and improve maternity and neonatal care. The ambitions and objectives for MNVPs are outlined in the Three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services, which is avaiable at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/three-year-delivery-plan-for-maternity-and-neonatal-services/

Integrated care board (ICBs) have a responsibility to ensure that MNVPs are delivering on the commitments set out in NHS England’s national guidance, which is avaiable at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/maternity-and-neonatal-voices-partnership-guidance/

A memorandum of understanding is in place for the Oxfordshire MNVP to oversee an agreed workplan, which is supported by the financial investment made by the ICB.

The ICB has appropriate governance mechanisms in place to ensure oversight of Oxfordshire MNVP activities.